diff --git a/tools/run_tests/run_xds_tests.py b/tools/run_tests/run_xds_tests.py
index 705f0a1a615..dd65dbb8438 100755
--- a/tools/run_tests/run_xds_tests.py
+++ b/tools/run_tests/run_xds_tests.py
@@ -1169,6 +1169,7 @@ def test_api_listener(gcp, backend_service, instance_group,
                       alternate_backend_service):
     logger.info("Running api_listener")
     passed = True
+    new_config_suffix = ''
     try:
         wait_for_healthy_backends(gcp, backend_service, instance_group)
         backend_instances = get_instance_names(gcp, instance_group)
@@ -3139,6 +3140,8 @@ try:
     instance_group_name = _BASE_INSTANCE_GROUP_NAME + gcp_suffix
     same_zone_instance_group_name = _BASE_INSTANCE_GROUP_NAME + '-same-zone' + gcp_suffix
     secondary_zone_instance_group_name = _BASE_INSTANCE_GROUP_NAME + '-secondary-zone' + gcp_suffix
+    potential_service_ports = list(args.service_port_range)
+    random.shuffle(potential_service_ports)
     if args.use_existing_gcp_resources:
         logger.info('Reusing existing GCP resources')
         get_health_check(gcp, health_check_name)
@@ -3164,8 +3167,6 @@ try:
             gcp, alternate_backend_service_name)
         create_url_map(gcp, url_map_name, backend_service, service_host_name)
         create_target_proxy(gcp, target_proxy_name)
-        potential_service_ports = list(args.service_port_range)
-        random.shuffle(potential_service_ports)
         create_global_forwarding_rule(gcp, forwarding_rule_name,
                                       potential_service_ports)
         if not gcp.service_port: