diff --git a/TestON/tests/SCPF/SCPFscaleTopo/dependencies/scaleTopoFunction.py b/TestON/tests/SCPF/SCPFscaleTopo/dependencies/scaleTopoFunction.py
index b670e12..f7a8782 100644
--- a/TestON/tests/SCPF/SCPFscaleTopo/dependencies/scaleTopoFunction.py
+++ b/TestON/tests/SCPF/SCPFscaleTopo/dependencies/scaleTopoFunction.py
@@ -449,6 +449,16 @@
         restartResult = main.FALSE
         main.log.error( main.topoName + ": Failed to install ONOS cluster" )
 
+    main.log.info( main.topoName + ": set up ONOS secure SSH" )
+    secureSshResult = []
+    for i in range( int( main.numCtrls ) ):
+        secureSshResult.append( main.onosSecureSSH( node=main.ONOSip[i] ) )
+    if all( result == main.TRUE for result in secureSshResult ):
+        main.log.info( main.topoName + ": Successfully set up ONOS secure SSH" )
+    else:
+        main.log.error( main.topoName + ": Failed to set up ONOS secure SSH" )
+        restartResult = main.FALSE
+
     for i in range( main.numCtrls ):
         onosIsUpResult.append( main.ONOSbench.isup( main.ONOSip[ i ] ) )
 
@@ -473,16 +483,6 @@
         else:
             main.log.error( main.topoName + ": Failed to start ONOS cluster" )
 
-    main.log.info( main.topoName + ": set up ONOS secure SSH" )
-    secureSshResult = []
-    for i in range( int( main.numCtrls ) ):
-        secureSshResult.append( main.onosSecureSSH( node=main.ONOSip[i] ) )
-    if all( result == main.TRUE for result in secureSshResult ):
-        main.log.info( main.topoName + ": Successfully set up ONOS secure SSH" )
-    else:
-        main.log.error( main.topoName + ": Failed to set up ONOS secure SSH" )
-        restartResult = main.FALSE
-
     main.log.info( main.topoName + ": Starting ONOS CLI" )
     cliResult = []
     for i in range( main.numCtrls ):