diff --git a/ansible/roles/test/files/ptftests/py3/advanced-reboot.py b/ansible/roles/test/files/ptftests/py3/advanced-reboot.py
index 4dfaa53ba6..23e7bbbcaa 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/test/files/ptftests/py3/advanced-reboot.py
+++ b/ansible/roles/test/files/ptftests/py3/advanced-reboot.py
@@ -1061,7 +1061,7 @@ def check_warmboot_finalizer(self, finalizer_timeout):
         self.finalizer_state = self.get_warmboot_finalizer_state()
         self.log('warmboot finalizer service state {}'.format(self.finalizer_state))
         count = 0
-        while self.finalizer_state == 'activating':
+        while self.finalizer_state == 'activating' or self.finalizer_state == '':
             self.finalizer_state = self.get_warmboot_finalizer_state()
             self.log('warmboot finalizer service state {}'.format(self.finalizer_state))
             time.sleep(10)