diff --git a/neutron_tempest_plugin/common/ssh.py b/neutron_tempest_plugin/common/ssh.py
index c6204a43..83345217 100644
--- a/neutron_tempest_plugin/common/ssh.py
+++ b/neutron_tempest_plugin/common/ssh.py
@@ -286,6 +286,13 @@ class Client(ssh.Client):
                 command=shell, host=self.host, script=script, stderr=stderr,
                 stdout=stdout, exit_status=exit_status)
 
+    def get_hostname(self):
+        """Retrieve the remote machine hostname"""
+        try:
+            return self.exec_command('hostname')
+        except exceptions.SSHExecCommandFailed:
+            return self.exec_command('cat /etc/hostname')
+
 
 def _buffer_to_string(data_buffer, encoding):
     return data_buffer.decode(encoding).replace("\r\n", "\n").replace(
diff --git a/neutron_tempest_plugin/scenario/base.py b/neutron_tempest_plugin/scenario/base.py
index e9ec5a4c..752e536a 100644
--- a/neutron_tempest_plugin/scenario/base.py
+++ b/neutron_tempest_plugin/scenario/base.py
@@ -519,7 +519,7 @@ class BaseTempestTestCase(base_api.BaseNetworkTest):
                     pkey=self.keypair['private_key'],
                     **kwargs)
                 self.assertIn(server['name'],
-                              ssh_client.exec_command('hostname'))
+                              ssh_client.get_hostname())
         except (lib_exc.SSHTimeout, ssh_exc.AuthenticationException) as ssh_e:
             LOG.debug(ssh_e)
             if log_errors:
diff --git a/neutron_tempest_plugin/scenario/test_internal_dns.py b/neutron_tempest_plugin/scenario/test_internal_dns.py
index c6202330..406af3d6 100644
--- a/neutron_tempest_plugin/scenario/test_internal_dns.py
+++ b/neutron_tempest_plugin/scenario/test_internal_dns.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class InternalDNSTest(base.BaseTempestTestCase):
             CONF.validation.image_ssh_user,
             pkey=self.keypair['private_key'])
 
-        self.assertIn('luke', ssh_client.exec_command('hostname'))
+        self.assertIn('luke', ssh_client.get_hostname())
 
         leia_port = self.client.list_ports(
             network_id=self.network['id'],