diff --git a/airflow/docker_image.go b/airflow/docker_image.go
index d4e558569..1b54e1585 100644
--- a/airflow/docker_image.go
+++ b/airflow/docker_image.go
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ func (d *DockerImage) Pytest(pytestFile, airflowHome, envFile, testHomeDirectory
 	// start pytest container
 	docErr = cmdExec(dockerCommand, stdout, stderr, []string{"start", "astro-pytest", "-a"}...)
 	if docErr != nil {
-		return "", docErr
+		log.Debugf("Error starting pytest container: %s", docErr.Error())
 	}
 	// get exit code
 	args = []string{
diff --git a/airflow/docker_image_test.go b/airflow/docker_image_test.go
index d3dfea85c..9f850519b 100644
--- a/airflow/docker_image_test.go
+++ b/airflow/docker_image_test.go
@@ -131,12 +131,16 @@ func TestDockerImagePytest(t *testing.T) {
 			switch {
 			case args[0] == "start":
 				return errMock
+			case args[0] == "inspect":
+				stdout.Write([]byte(`exit code 1`)) // making sure exit code is captured properly
+				return nil
 			default:
 				return nil
 			}
 		}
-		_, err = handler.Pytest("", "", "", "", []string{}, true, options)
+		out, err := handler.Pytest("", "", "", "", []string{}, true, options)
 		assert.Error(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, out, "exit code 1")
 	})
 
 	t.Run("copy error", func(t *testing.T) {