diff --git a/.github/workflows/e2e.yaml b/.github/workflows/e2e.yaml
index c80a26f0742d..2ba4b3e64e31 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/e2e.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/e2e.yaml
@@ -146,13 +146,17 @@ jobs:
     # For upgrade and skew tests, we need to know the branch name this run is based off.
     # Since this is predetermined, we can run this step before the docker-go job, saving time.
     # For PRs we can use the base_ref (ie the target branch of the PR).
-    # For pushes to k3s-io/k3s, the branch_name is a valid ref, master or release-x.y.
+    # For pushes to k3s-io/k3s from dependabot or updatecli, use master
+    # All other pushes should be a valid ref, master or release-1.XX.
     # For pushes to a fork, we need to determine the branch name by finding the parent branch from git show-branch history.
     - name: Determine branch name
       id: branch_step
       run: |
         if [ ${{ github.repository }} = "k3s-io/k3s" ]; then 
           BRANCH_NAME=$(echo ${{ github.base_ref || github.ref_name }})
+          if [[ $BRANCH_NAME =~ ^(dependabot|updatecli) ]]; then
+            BRANCH_NAME=master
+          fi
         elif [ -z "${{ github.base_ref }}" ]; then
           # We are in a fork, and need some git history to determine the branch name
           git fetch origin --depth=100 +refs/heads/*:refs/remotes/origin/*
@@ -162,7 +166,14 @@ jobs:
         fi
         echo "Branch Name is $BRANCH_NAME"
         echo "BRANCH_NAME=$BRANCH_NAME" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-     
+    # branch name should be either master or release-1.XX
+    - name: Fail if branch name does not match pattern
+      run: |
+        if [[ ! ${{ steps.branch_step.outputs.branch_name }} =~ ^(master|release-[0-9]+\.[0-9]+)$ ]]; then
+          echo "Branch name ${{ steps.branch_step.outputs.branch_name }} does not match pattern"
+          exit 1
+        fi
+
   docker-go:
     needs: [build, build-go-tests]
     name: Docker Tests In GO
@@ -193,7 +204,7 @@ jobs:
         name: docker-go-tests
         path: ./dist/artifacts
     - name: Run ${{ matrix.dtest }} Test
-      # Put the compied test binary back in the same place as the test source
+      # Put the compiled test binary back in the same place as the test source
       run: |
         chmod +x ./dist/artifacts/${{ matrix.dtest }}.test
         mv ./dist/artifacts/${{ matrix.dtest }}.test ./tests/docker/${{ matrix.dtest }}/
diff --git a/tests/docker/etcd/etcd_test.go b/tests/docker/etcd/etcd_test.go
index 948f53f7da2f..258379385bca 100644
--- a/tests/docker/etcd/etcd_test.go
+++ b/tests/docker/etcd/etcd_test.go
@@ -32,9 +32,8 @@ var _ = Describe("Etcd Tests", Ordered, func() {
 			Eventually(func() error {
 				return tester.DeploymentsReady([]string{"coredns", "local-path-provisioner", "metrics-server", "traefik"}, config.KubeconfigFile)
 			}, "60s", "5s").Should(Succeed())
-			Eventually(func(g Gomega) {
-				g.Expect(tester.ParseNodes(config.KubeconfigFile)).To(HaveLen(3))
-				g.Expect(tester.NodesReady(config.KubeconfigFile)).To(Succeed())
+			Eventually(func() error {
+				return tester.NodesReady(config.KubeconfigFile, config.GetNodeNames()...)
 			}, "60s", "5s").Should(Succeed())
 		})
 		It("should destroy the cluster", func() {
@@ -59,10 +58,9 @@ var _ = Describe("Etcd Tests", Ordered, func() {
 			Eventually(func() error {
 				return tester.DeploymentsReady([]string{"coredns", "local-path-provisioner", "metrics-server", "traefik"}, config.KubeconfigFile)
 			}, "90s", "5s").Should(Succeed())
-			Eventually(func(g Gomega) {
-				g.Expect(tester.ParseNodes(config.KubeconfigFile)).To(HaveLen(6))
-				g.Expect(tester.NodesReady(config.KubeconfigFile)).To(Succeed())
-			}, "60s", "5s").Should(Succeed())
+			Eventually(func() error {
+				return tester.NodesReady(config.KubeconfigFile, config.GetNodeNames()...)
+			}, "90s", "5s").Should(Succeed())
 		})
 	})
 })
diff --git a/tests/docker/test-helpers.go b/tests/docker/test-helpers.go
index f4228de9dee8..6e1fd9972cf3 100644
--- a/tests/docker/test-helpers.go
+++ b/tests/docker/test-helpers.go
@@ -463,16 +463,29 @@ func PodReady(podName, namespace, kubeconfigFile string) (bool, error) {
 }
 
 // Checks if all nodes are ready, otherwise returns an error
-func NodesReady(kubeconfigFile string) error {
+// If nodeNames are provided, make sure those nodes are ready
+func NodesReady(kubeconfigFile string, nodeNames ...string) error {
 	nodes, err := ParseNodes(kubeconfigFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
+	nodesFound := make(map[string]bool, len(nodeNames))
+	for _, nodeName := range nodeNames {
+		nodesFound[nodeName] = false
+	}
 	for _, node := range nodes {
 		for _, condition := range node.Status.Conditions {
 			if condition.Type == corev1.NodeReady && condition.Status != corev1.ConditionTrue {
 				return fmt.Errorf("node %s is not ready", node.Name)
 			}
+			if _, ok := nodesFound[node.Name]; ok {
+				nodesFound[node.Name] = true
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	for nodeName, found := range nodesFound {
+		if !found {
+			return fmt.Errorf("node %s not found", nodeName)
 		}
 	}
 	return nil