diff --git a/tests/e2e/scenarios/upgrade/run-test b/tests/e2e/scenarios/upgrade/run-test
index ac0625d340..8cdd3ebc0a 100755
--- a/tests/e2e/scenarios/upgrade/run-test
+++ b/tests/e2e/scenarios/upgrade/run-test
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ set -o pipefail
 
 echo "CLOUD_PROVIDER=${CLOUD_PROVIDER}"
 
-export KOPS_FEATURE_FLAGS="SpecOverrideFlag,${KOPS_FEATURE_FLAGS}"
+export KOPS_FEATURE_FLAGS="SpecOverrideFlag,${KOPS_FEATURE_FLAGS:-}"
 REPO_ROOT=$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel);
 PATH=$REPO_ROOT/bazel-bin/cmd/kops/$(go env GOOS)-$(go env GOARCH):$PATH