diff --git a/.github/workflows/e2e.yaml b/.github/workflows/e2e.yaml
index 975c6b7..74204fa 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/e2e.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/e2e.yaml
@@ -132,7 +132,11 @@ jobs:
       - name: Apply RBAC for E2E pipeline
         run: |
           set -x
-          kubectl apply -f deployment/e2e-ci-runner-rbac.yaml --namespace=headlamp-dev
+          echo "=== Verifying RBAC is available in headlamp-dev namespace ==="
+          kubectl get role e2e-ci-runner -n headlamp-dev && echo "Role e2e-ci-runner already exists" || echo "Role e2e-ci-runner not found"
+          kubectl get rolebinding e2e-ci-runner-binding -n headlamp-dev && echo "RoleBinding e2e-ci-runner-binding already exists" || echo "RoleBinding not found"
+          echo "Applying RBAC from deployment/e2e-ci-runner-rbac.yaml..."
+          kubectl apply -f deployment/e2e-ci-runner-rbac.yaml || echo "apply returned exit code $?"
           echo "Waiting for RBAC propagation..."
           sleep 5
           kubectl get role e2e-ci-runner -n headlamp-dev