diff --git a/test/e2e/scheduling/predicates.go b/test/e2e/scheduling/predicates.go
index 652d8f4158317..4f66cafab2d86 100644
--- a/test/e2e/scheduling/predicates.go
+++ b/test/e2e/scheduling/predicates.go
@@ -934,8 +934,12 @@ func createPausePod(f *framework.Framework, conf pausePodConfig) *v1.Pod {
 }
 
 func runPausePod(f *framework.Framework, conf pausePodConfig) *v1.Pod {
+	return runPausePodWithTimeout(f, conf, framework.PollShortTimeout)
+}
+
+func runPausePodWithTimeout(f *framework.Framework, conf pausePodConfig, timeout time.Duration) *v1.Pod {
 	pod := createPausePod(f, conf)
-	framework.ExpectNoError(e2epod.WaitTimeoutForPodRunningInNamespace(f.ClientSet, pod.Name, pod.Namespace, framework.PollShortTimeout))
+	framework.ExpectNoError(e2epod.WaitTimeoutForPodRunningInNamespace(f.ClientSet, pod.Name, pod.Namespace, timeout))
 	pod, err := f.ClientSet.CoreV1().Pods(pod.Namespace).Get(context.TODO(), conf.Name, metav1.GetOptions{})
 	framework.ExpectNoError(err)
 	return pod
diff --git a/test/e2e/scheduling/preemption.go b/test/e2e/scheduling/preemption.go
index 8cdf2e4d68672..d23d0f4061940 100644
--- a/test/e2e/scheduling/preemption.go
+++ b/test/e2e/scheduling/preemption.go
@@ -178,14 +178,14 @@ var _ = SIGDescribe("SchedulerPreemption [Serial]", func() {
 
 		ginkgo.By("Run a high priority pod that has same requirements as that of lower priority pod")
 		// Create a high priority pod and make sure it is scheduled on the same node as the low priority pod.
-		runPausePod(f, pausePodConfig{
+		runPausePodWithTimeout(f, pausePodConfig{
 			Name:              "preemptor-pod",
 			PriorityClassName: highPriorityClassName,
 			Resources: &v1.ResourceRequirements{
 				Requests: podRes,
 				Limits:   podRes,
 			},
-		})
+		}, framework.PodStartShortTimeout)
 
 		preemptedPod, err := cs.CoreV1().Pods(pods[0].Namespace).Get(context.TODO(), pods[0].Name, metav1.GetOptions{})
 		podPreempted := (err != nil && apierrors.IsNotFound(err)) ||
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ var _ = SIGDescribe("SchedulerPreemption [Serial]", func() {
 				framework.Failf("Error cleanup pod `%s/%s`: %v", metav1.NamespaceSystem, "critical-pod", err)
 			}
 		}()
-		runPausePod(f, pausePodConfig{
+		runPausePodWithTimeout(f, pausePodConfig{
 			Name:              "critical-pod",
 			Namespace:         metav1.NamespaceSystem,
 			PriorityClassName: scheduling.SystemClusterCritical,
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ var _ = SIGDescribe("SchedulerPreemption [Serial]", func() {
 				Requests: podRes,
 				Limits:   podRes,
 			},
-		})
+		}, framework.PodStartShortTimeout)
 
 		defer func() {
 			// Clean-up the critical pod