diff --git a/tests/vm/basevm.py b/tests/vm/basevm.py
index 5a3ce4228175..a80b616a08d3 100644
--- a/tests/vm/basevm.py
+++ b/tests/vm/basevm.py
@@ -320,24 +320,24 @@ def console_sshd_config(self, prompt):
     def print_step(self, text):
         sys.stderr.write("### %s ...\n" % text)
 
-    def wait_ssh(self, wait_root=False, seconds=300):
+    def wait_ssh(self, wait_root=False, seconds=300, cmd="exit 0"):
         # Allow more time for VM to boot under TCG.
         if not kvm_available(self.arch):
             seconds *= self.tcg_ssh_timeout_multiplier
         starttime = datetime.datetime.now()
         endtime = starttime + datetime.timedelta(seconds=seconds)
-        guest_up = False
+        cmd_success = False
         while datetime.datetime.now() < endtime:
-            if wait_root and self.ssh_root("exit 0") == 0:
-                guest_up = True
+            if wait_root and self.ssh_root(cmd) == 0:
+                cmd_success = True
                 break
-            elif self.ssh("exit 0") == 0:
-                guest_up = True
+            elif self.ssh(cmd) == 0:
+                cmd_success = True
                 break
             seconds = (endtime - datetime.datetime.now()).total_seconds()
             logging.debug("%ds before timeout", seconds)
             time.sleep(1)
-        if not guest_up:
+        if not cmd_success:
             raise Exception("Timeout while waiting for guest ssh")
 
     def shutdown(self):