diff --git a/TestON/tests/HA/HAscaling/HAscaling.py b/TestON/tests/HA/HAscaling/HAscaling.py
index 2bc1d13..d4cf53d 100644
--- a/TestON/tests/HA/HAscaling/HAscaling.py
+++ b/TestON/tests/HA/HAscaling/HAscaling.py
@@ -273,6 +273,14 @@
                             path,
                             direction="to" )
 
+        main.step( "Set up ONOS secure SSH" )
+        secureSshResult = main.TRUE
+        for node in main.nodes:
+            secureSshResult = secureSshResult and main.ONOSbench.onosSecureSSH( node=node.ip_address )
+        utilities.assert_equals( expect=main.TRUE, actual=secureSshResult,
+                                 onpass="Test step PASS",
+                                 onfail="Test step FAIL" )
+
         main.step( "Checking if ONOS is up yet" )
         for i in range( 2 ):
             onosIsupResult = main.TRUE
@@ -288,14 +296,6 @@
                                  onpass="ONOS startup successful",
                                  onfail="ONOS startup failed" )
 
-        main.step( "Set up ONOS secure SSH" )
-        secureSshResult = main.TRUE
-        for node in main.nodes:
-            secureSshResult = secureSshResult and main.ONOSbench.onosSecureSSH( node=node.ip_address )
-        utilities.assert_equals( expect=main.TRUE, actual=secureSshResult,
-                                 onpass="Test step PASS",
-                                 onfail="Test step FAIL" )
-
         main.step( "Starting ONOS CLI sessions" )
         cliResults = main.TRUE
         threads = []