diff --git a/tests/e2e/util.go b/tests/e2e/util.go
index bf88662bbc..7fd530a229 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/util.go
+++ b/tests/e2e/util.go
@@ -990,10 +990,9 @@ func createStatefulSetWithOneReplica(client clientset.Interface, manifestPath st
 		if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "already exists") {
 			framework.Logf("services 'nginx' already exists")
 		} else {
-			gomega.Expect(err).NotTo(gomega.HaveOccurred())
+			fmt.Errorf("Failed to create nginx service")
 		}
 	}
-	gomega.Expect(err).NotTo(gomega.HaveOccurred())
 	*statefulSet.Spec.Replicas = 1
 	_, err = client.AppsV1().StatefulSets(namespace).Create(ctx, statefulSet, metav1.CreateOptions{})
 	gomega.Expect(err).NotTo(gomega.HaveOccurred())