diff --git a/jenkins/ci-pipelines/ci_e2e_tests.groovy b/jenkins/ci-pipelines/ci_e2e_tests.groovy
index 01301a0..0e8d68d 100644
--- a/jenkins/ci-pipelines/ci_e2e_tests.groovy
+++ b/jenkins/ci-pipelines/ci_e2e_tests.groovy
@@ -425,7 +425,8 @@
         stage('Cleanup') {
             // Always attempt to cleanup temp kubeconfig directory if created.
             if (kubeTmpDir?.trim()) {
-                sh "rm -rf '${kubeTmpDir}' || true"
+                println("Cleaning up temporary Kubernetes directory at ${kubeTmpDir}")
+                sh(returnStatus: true, script: "rm -rf '${kubeTmpDir}'")
                 kubeTmpDir = null
             }
 
@@ -451,6 +452,7 @@
                     runHiveCommand("""
                         openstack server delete ${serverId}
                     """)
+                    println("VM: ${serverId} deletion command issued successfully")
                 } catch (Exception e) {
                     // Avoid masking an earlier failure with cleanup failure.
                     println("VM delete failed: ${e.message}")