diff --git a/e2e/e2e_canary_upgrade_test.go b/e2e/e2e_canary_upgrade_test.go
index ead68c8ef1..98b636e763 100644
--- a/e2e/e2e_canary_upgrade_test.go
+++ b/e2e/e2e_canary_upgrade_test.go
@@ -36,23 +36,24 @@ func operatorConfigForVersion(version string) operator.OperatorConfig {
 }
 
 var _ = Describe("Fleetshard-sync Targeted Upgrade", func() {
+	var client *fleetmanager.Client
+	var err error
 
 	BeforeEach(func() {
 		if !features.TargetedOperatorUpgrades.Enabled() {
 			Skip("Skipping canary upgrade test")
 		}
+		option := fleetmanager.OptionFromEnv()
+		auth, err := fleetmanager.NewStaticAuth(fleetmanager.StaticOption{StaticToken: option.Static.StaticToken})
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		client, err = fleetmanager.NewClient(fleetManagerEndpoint, auth)
+		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
 	})
 
 	if fmEndpointEnv := os.Getenv("FLEET_MANAGER_ENDPOINT"); fmEndpointEnv != "" {
 		fleetManagerEndpoint = fmEndpointEnv
 	}
 
-	option := fleetmanager.OptionFromEnv()
-	auth, err := fleetmanager.NewStaticAuth(fleetmanager.StaticOption{StaticToken: option.Static.StaticToken})
-	Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
-	client, err := fleetmanager.NewClient(fleetManagerEndpoint, auth)
-	Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
-
 	operatorConfig1 := operatorConfigForVersion("4.1.1")
 	operatorConfig2 := operatorConfigForVersion("4.1.2")