diff --git a/test/e2e/framework/network_pods.go b/test/e2e/framework/network_pods.go
index 7443714f0..dea4f584b 100644
--- a/test/e2e/framework/network_pods.go
+++ b/test/e2e/framework/network_pods.go
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ func (np *NetworkPod) buildThroughputClientPod() {
 		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
 			GenerateName: "nettest-client-pod",
 			Labels: map[string]string{
-				"run": "nettest-client-pod",
+				TestAppLabel: "nettest-client-pod",
 			},
 		},
 		Spec: v1.PodSpec{
@@ -282,10 +282,13 @@ func (np *NetworkPod) buildThroughputClientPod() {
 					Name:            "nettest-client-pod",
 					Image:           "quay.io/submariner/nettest:devel",
 					ImagePullPolicy: v1.PullAlways,
-					Command: []string{
-						"sh", "-c", "iperf3 -w 256K -P 10 -c $TARGET_IP >/dev/termination-log 2>&1"},
+					Command: []string{"sh", "-c", "for i in $(seq $CONN_TRIES); do if iperf3 -w 256K --connect-timeout $CONN_TIMEOUT -P 10 -p $TARGET_PORT -c $TARGET_IP; then break; else echo [going to retry]; sleep $RETRY_SLEEP; fi; done >/dev/termination-log 2>&1"},
 					Env: []v1.EnvVar{
 						{Name: "TARGET_IP", Value: np.Config.RemoteIP},
+						{Name: "TARGET_PORT", Value: strconv.Itoa(np.Config.Port)},
+						{Name: "CONN_TRIES", Value: strconv.Itoa(int(np.Config.ConnectionAttempts))},
+						{Name: "RETRY_SLEEP", Value: strconv.Itoa(int(np.Config.ConnectionTimeout))},
+						{Name: "CONN_TIMEOUT", Value: strconv.Itoa(int(np.Config.ConnectionTimeout))},
 					},
 				},
 			},
@@ -306,7 +309,7 @@ func (np *NetworkPod) buildThroughputServerPod() {
 		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
 			GenerateName: "nettest-server-pod",
 			Labels: map[string]string{
-				"run": "nettest-server-pod",
+				TestAppLabel: "nettest-server-pod",
 			},
 		},
 		Spec: v1.PodSpec{
@@ -317,7 +320,10 @@ func (np *NetworkPod) buildThroughputServerPod() {
 					Name:            "nettest-server-pod",
 					Image:           "quay.io/submariner/nettest:devel",
 					ImagePullPolicy: v1.PullAlways,
-					Command:         []string{"iperf3", "-s"},
+					Command:         []string{"sh", "-c", "iperf3 -s -p $TARGET_PORT"},
+					Env: []v1.EnvVar{
+						{Name: "TARGET_PORT", Value: strconv.Itoa(np.Config.Port)},
+					},
 				},
 			},
 			Tolerations: []v1.Toleration{{Operator: v1.TolerationOpExists}},
@@ -339,7 +345,7 @@ func (np *NetworkPod) buildLatencyClientPod() {
 		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
 			GenerateName: "latency-client-pod",
 			Labels: map[string]string{
-				"run": "latency-client-pod",
+				TestAppLabel: "latency-client-pod",
 			},
 		},
 		Spec: v1.PodSpec{
@@ -374,7 +380,7 @@ func (np *NetworkPod) buildLatencyServerPod() {
 		ObjectMeta: metav1.ObjectMeta{
 			GenerateName: "latency-server-pod",
 			Labels: map[string]string{
-				"run": "latency-server-pod",
+				TestAppLabel: "latency-server-pod",
 			},
 		},
 		Spec: v1.PodSpec{
@@ -442,4 +448,4 @@ func removeDupDataplaneLines(output string) string {
 	}
 
 	return strings.Join(newLines, "\n")
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file