diff --git a/test/e2e_node/util.go b/test/e2e_node/util.go
index 0d00f88944..bc08f03d27 100644
--- a/test/e2e_node/util.go
+++ b/test/e2e_node/util.go
@@ -107,6 +107,10 @@ func tempSetCurrentKubeletConfig(f *framework.Framework, updateFunction func(ini
 		framework.ExpectNoError(err)
 		newCfg := oldCfg.DeepCopy()
 		updateFunction(newCfg)
+		if reflect.DeepEqual(*newCfg, *oldCfg) {
+			return
+		}
+
 		framework.ExpectNoError(setKubeletConfiguration(f, newCfg))
 	})
 	AfterEach(func() {