diff --git a/test/e2e/common_test.go b/test/e2e/common_test.go
index 6d0ed0d5f8..56a26b35be 100644
--- a/test/e2e/common_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/common_test.go
@@ -851,17 +851,21 @@ type journaldTests struct {
 
 var journald journaldTests
 
-func SkipIfJournaldUnavailable() {
+// Check if journalctl is unavailable
+func checkAvailableJournald() {
 	f := func() {
 		journald.journaldSkip = false
 
-		// Check if journalctl is unavailable
 		cmd := exec.Command("journalctl", "-n", "1")
 		if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
 			journald.journaldSkip = true
 		}
 	}
 	journald.journaldOnce.Do(f)
+}
+
+func SkipIfJournaldUnavailable() {
+	checkAvailableJournald()
 
 	// In container, journalctl does not return an error even if
 	// journald is unavailable
diff --git a/test/e2e/systemd_test.go b/test/e2e/systemd_test.go
index 888ecc5cae..da5d2ccc27 100644
--- a/test/e2e/systemd_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/systemd_test.go
@@ -64,8 +64,11 @@ WantedBy=default.target
 		start := SystemExec("systemctl", []string{dashWhat, "start", serviceName})
 		Expect(start).Should(ExitCleanly())
 
-		logs := SystemExec("journalctl", []string{dashWhat, "-n", "20", "-u", serviceName})
-		Expect(logs).Should(ExitCleanly())
+		checkAvailableJournald()
+		if !journald.journaldSkip {
+			logs := SystemExec("journalctl", []string{dashWhat, "-n", "20", "-u", serviceName})
+			Expect(logs).Should(ExitCleanly())
+		}
 
 		status := SystemExec("systemctl", []string{dashWhat, "status", serviceName})
 		Expect(status.OutputToString()).To(ContainSubstring("active (running)"))