diff --git a/harvester_e2e_tests/fixtures/rancher_api_client.py b/harvester_e2e_tests/fixtures/rancher_api_client.py
index 64a4b03ba..76daba8e4 100644
--- a/harvester_e2e_tests/fixtures/rancher_api_client.py
+++ b/harvester_e2e_tests/fixtures/rancher_api_client.py
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ def _pickup_k8s_version(versions, target_version):
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope='session')
 def rke1_version(request, rancher_api_client, harvester_metadata):
+    if rancher_api_client.cluster_version >= parse_version("v2.12.0"):
+        pytest.skip(reason=f"Rancher version {rancher_api_client.cluster_version} "
+                    "matches RKE1 has reached EOL condition(s) in v2.12.0")
+
     target_ver = request.config.getoption("--k8s-version")
 
     code, data = rancher_api_client.settings.get("k8s-versions-current")