diff --git a/tests/e2e/scenarios/upgrade-ab/run-test.sh b/tests/e2e/scenarios/upgrade-ab/run-test.sh
index 2517819e41..5c5eb62157 100755
--- a/tests/e2e/scenarios/upgrade-ab/run-test.sh
+++ b/tests/e2e/scenarios/upgrade-ab/run-test.sh
@@ -59,10 +59,14 @@ else
   KOPS="${KOPS_A}"
 fi
 
+
+
 ${KUBETEST2} \
     --up \
     --kops-binary-path="${KOPS_A}" \
     --kubernetes-version="${K8S_VERSION_A}" \
+    --control-plane-size="${KOPS_CONTROL_PLANE_SIZE:-1}" \
+    --template-path="${KOPS_TEMPLATE:-}" \
     --create-args="--networking calico"
 
 # Export kubeconfig-a
@@ -107,6 +111,10 @@ cp "${KOPS_B}" "${WORKSPACE}/kops"
 
 "${KOPS_B}" export kubecfg --name "${CLUSTER_NAME}" --admin
 
+if [[ -z ${KOPS_SKIP_E2E:-} ]]; then
+  exit
+fi
+
 ${KUBETEST2} \
     --cloud-provider="${CLOUD_PROVIDER}" \
     --kops-binary-path="${KOPS}" \