diff --git a/cluster/gce/gci/configure.sh b/cluster/gce/gci/configure.sh
index 1cafa90fb2c..37803fc25ee 100644
--- a/cluster/gce/gci/configure.sh
+++ b/cluster/gce/gci/configure.sh
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ function try-load-docker-image {
   set +e
   local -r max_attempts=5
   local -i attempt_num=1
-  until timeout 30 ${LOAD_IMAGE_COMMAND} "${img}"; do
+  until timeout 30 ${LOAD_IMAGE_COMMAND:-docker load -i} "${img}"; do
     if [[ "${attempt_num}" == "${max_attempts}" ]]; then
       echo "Fail to load docker image file ${img} after ${max_attempts} retries. Exit!!"
       exit 1