diff --git a/test/e2e/federation/federation_kubernetes.go b/test/e2e/federation/federation_kubernetes.go
index 0a9351a20b92..d7586ae2ceaa 100644
--- a/test/e2e/federation/federation_kubernetes.go
+++ b/test/e2e/federation/federation_kubernetes.go
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func FederateKubeZoneCPToKubeGlobal() {
 			Install(Kuma(core.Global,
 				WithInstallationMode(HelmInstallationMode),
 				WithHelmReleaseName(releaseName),
-				WithEnv("KUMA_DEFAULTS_SKIP_MESH_CREATION", "true"),
+				WithSkipDefaultMesh(true),
 			)).
 			Setup(global)
 		Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())