diff --git a/tests/kafkatest/services/kafka/kafka.py b/tests/kafkatest/services/kafka/kafka.py
index 89aeb0cfdc..39556b7d29 100644
--- a/tests/kafkatest/services/kafka/kafka.py
+++ b/tests/kafkatest/services/kafka/kafka.py
@@ -612,6 +612,17 @@ def alive(self, node):
         return len(self.pids(node)) > 0
 
     def start(self, add_principals="", nodes_to_skip=[], timeout_sec=60, **kwargs):
+        """
+        Start the Kafka broker and wait until it registers its ID in ZooKeeper
+        Startup will be skipped for any nodes in nodes_to_skip. These nodes can be started later via add_broker
+        """
+        try:
+            self.start0(add_principals=add_principals, nodes_to_skip=nodes_to_skip, timeout_sec=timeout_sec, **kwargs)
+        except RemoteCommandError as e:
+            self.logger.error("RemoteCommandError when starting Kafka service: %s", e)
+            raise
+
+    def start0(self, add_principals="", nodes_to_skip=[], timeout_sec=60, **kwargs):
         """
         Start the Kafka broker and wait until it registers its ID in ZooKeeper
         Startup will be skipped for any nodes in nodes_to_skip. These nodes can be started later via add_broker