diff --git a/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/sshcontrol.py b/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/sshcontrol.py
index 36c2ecb3db..6c5648779a 100644
--- a/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/sshcontrol.py
+++ b/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/sshcontrol.py
@@ -57,8 +57,10 @@ class SSHProcess(object):
                     if select.select([self.process.stdout], [], [], 5)[0] != []:
                         data = os.read(self.process.stdout.fileno(), 1024)
                         if not data:
-                            self.process.stdout.close()
-                            eof = True
+                            self.process.poll()
+                            if self.process.returncode is None:
+                                self.process.stdout.close()
+                                eof = True
                         else:
                             data = data.decode("utf-8")
                             output += data