diff --git a/TestON/tests/SCPF/SCPFscaleTopo/SCPFscaleTopo.py b/TestON/tests/SCPF/SCPFscaleTopo/SCPFscaleTopo.py
index 1a1e38f..ea2a6dd 100644
--- a/TestON/tests/SCPF/SCPFscaleTopo/SCPFscaleTopo.py
+++ b/TestON/tests/SCPF/SCPFscaleTopo/SCPFscaleTopo.py
@@ -219,6 +219,14 @@
                                  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
@@ -245,14 +253,6 @@
                                  onpass="ONOS service is ready",
                                  onfail="ONOS service did not start properly" )
 
-        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
         main.activeNodes = []
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 ):