diff --git a/reframe/core/schedulers/slurm.py b/reframe/core/schedulers/slurm.py
index d70c19332e..e45d0e6ead 100644
--- a/reframe/core/schedulers/slurm.py
+++ b/reframe/core/schedulers/slurm.py
@@ -293,11 +293,22 @@ def _check_and_cancel(self, reason_descr):
             reason, reason_details = reason_descr, None
 
         if reason in self._cancel_reasons:
-            # Here we handle the case were the UnavailableNodes list is empty,
-            # which actually means that the job is pending
             if reason == 'ReqNodeNotAvail' and reason_details:
-                if re.match(r'UnavailableNodes:$', reason_details.strip()):
-                    return
+                nodes_match = re.match(
+                    r'UnavailableNodes:(?P<node_names>\S+)?',
+                    reason_details.strip())
+                if nodes_match:
+                    node_names = node_match['node_names']
+                    if nodes_names:
+                        # Retrieve the info of the unavailable nodes
+                        # and check if they are indeed down
+                        nodes = self._get_nodes_by_name(node_names)
+                        if not any(n.is_down() for n in nodes):
+                            return
+                    else:
+                        # List of unavailable nodes is empty; assume job
+                        # is pending
+                        return
 
             self.cancel()
             reason_msg = ('job cancelled because it was blocked due to '
@@ -407,7 +418,8 @@ def __init__(self, node_descr):
             'Partitions', node_descr).split(','))
         self._active_features = set(self._extract_attribute(
             'ActiveFeatures', node_descr).split(','))
-        self._state = self._extract_attribute('State', node_descr)
+        self._states = set(
+            self._extract_attribute('State', node_descr).split('+'))
 
     def __eq__(self, other):
         if not isinstance(other, type(self)):
@@ -419,7 +431,10 @@ def __hash__(self):
         return hash(self.name)
 
     def is_available(self):
-        return self._state == 'IDLE'
+        return self._states == {'IDLE'}
+
+    def is_down(self):
+        return bool({'DOWN', 'DRAIN', 'MAINT', 'NO_RESPOND'} & self._states)
 
     @property
     def active_features(self):
@@ -434,8 +449,8 @@ def partitions(self):
         return self._partitions
 
     @property
-    def state(self):
-        return self._state
+    def states(self):
+        return self._states
 
     def _extract_attribute(self, attr_name, node_descr):
         attr_match = re.search(r'%s=(\S+)' % attr_name, node_descr)
diff --git a/unittests/test_schedulers.py b/unittests/test_schedulers.py
index 8793c26a29..13f05270f5 100644
--- a/unittests/test_schedulers.py
+++ b/unittests/test_schedulers.py
@@ -779,10 +779,10 @@ def setUp(self):
         self.idle_node = SlurmNode(idle_node_description)
         self.idle_drained = SlurmNode(idle_drained_node_description)
 
-    def test_state(self):
-        self.assertEqual(self.allocated_node.state, 'ALLOCATED')
-        self.assertEqual(self.idle_node.state, 'IDLE')
-        self.assertEqual(self.idle_drained.state, 'IDLE+DRAIN')
+    def test_states(self):
+        self.assertEqual(self.allocated_node.states, {'ALLOCATED'})
+        self.assertEqual(self.idle_node.states, {'IDLE'})
+        self.assertEqual(self.idle_drained.states, {'IDLE', 'DRAIN'})
 
     def test_equals(self):
         self.assertEqual(self.allocated_node, self.allocated_node_copy)
@@ -806,3 +806,8 @@ def test_is_available(self):
         self.assertFalse(self.allocated_node.is_available())
         self.assertTrue(self.idle_node.is_available())
         self.assertFalse(self.idle_drained.is_available())
+
+    def test_is_down(self):
+        self.assertFalse(self.allocated_node.is_down())
+        self.assertFalse(self.idle_node.is_down())
+        self.assertTrue(self.idle_drained.is_down())