diff --git a/tests/e2e/kubetest2-kops/deployer/up.go b/tests/e2e/kubetest2-kops/deployer/up.go
index 843705ba7b..d16d9057a6 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/kubetest2-kops/deployer/up.go
+++ b/tests/e2e/kubetest2-kops/deployer/up.go
@@ -292,9 +292,11 @@ func (d *deployer) IsUp() (bool, error) {
 		d.KopsBinaryPath, "validate", "cluster",
 		"--name", d.ClusterName,
 		"--count", strconv.Itoa(d.ValidationCount),
-		"--interval", d.ValidationInterval.String(),
 		"--wait", wait.String(),
 	}
+	if d.ValidationInterval > 10*time.Second {
+		args = append(args, "--interval", d.ValidationInterval.String())
+	}
 	klog.Info(strings.Join(args, " "))
 
 	cmd := exec.Command(args[0], args[1:]...)