diff --git a/.github/workflows/e2e.yml b/.github/workflows/e2e.yml
index cad2e7a4..75255a92 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/e2e.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/e2e.yml
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ jobs:
           export GARDENER_DIR="${HOME}/.gardener"
           mkdir -p "/home/runner/.gardener"
           echo ${GARDENER_KYMATUNAS} | base64 --decode > ${GARDENER_DIR}/kubeconfig
+          export TEST_ENV_STEP1="this was set in previous step"
 
       - name: Provision Gardener cluster
         env:
@@ -175,6 +176,7 @@ jobs:
           GARDENER_CLUSTER_VERSION: "1.26.9"
         run: |
           export GARDENER_KUBECONFIG="${HOME}/.gardener/kubeconfig"
+          echo ${TEST_ENV_STEP1}
           make -C hack/ci/ provision-gardener-cluster
           kubectl version
           kubectl cluster-info