diff --git a/TestON/tests/FUNC/FUNCintent/FUNCintent.py b/TestON/tests/FUNC/FUNCintent/FUNCintent.py
index 1371453..4785200 100644
--- a/TestON/tests/FUNC/FUNCintent/FUNCintent.py
+++ b/TestON/tests/FUNC/FUNCintent/FUNCintent.py
@@ -205,6 +205,14 @@
                                  onpass="Successfully installed ONOS package",
                                  onfail="Failed to install ONOS package" )
 
+        main.step( "Set up ONOS secure SSH" )
+        secureSshResult = main.TRUE
+        for i in range( int( main.numCtrls ) ):
+            secureSshResult = secureSshResult and main.ONOSbench.onosSecureSSH( node=main.ONOSip[i] )
+        utilities.assert_equals( expect=main.TRUE, actual=secureSshResult,
+                                 onpass="Test step PASS",
+                                 onfail="Test step FAIL" )
+
         time.sleep( main.startUpSleep )
         main.step( "Starting ONOS service" )
         stopResult = main.TRUE
@@ -229,14 +237,6 @@
                                  onpass="ONOS service is ready on all nodes",
                                  onfail="ONOS service did not start properly on all nodes" )
 
-        main.step( "Set up ONOS secure SSH" )
-        secureSshResult = main.TRUE
-        for i in range( int( main.numCtrls ) ):
-            secureSshResult = secureSshResult and main.ONOSbench.onosSecureSSH( node=main.ONOSip[i] )
-        utilities.assert_equals( expect=main.TRUE, actual=secureSshResult,
-                                 onpass="Test step PASS",
-                                 onfail="Test step FAIL" )
-
         main.step( "Start ONOS cli" )
         cliResult = main.TRUE
         for i in range( main.numCtrls ):