diff --git a/tests/api2/test_openssl.py b/tests/api2/test_openssl.py
index 60dc1648b7f7f..1bd810088733c 100644
--- a/tests/api2/test_openssl.py
+++ b/tests/api2/test_openssl.py
@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@ def test_fips_version():
             continue
         break
     else:
-        request = ssh(payload, complete_response=True, timeout=300)
-        assert False, f"Failed to run FIPS payload after {retry} retries."
+        request = ssh(payload, complete_response=True, timeout=300) # fail the test
 
     enabled_info = ssh("cat /root/osslproviders")
     # Check that things are what we expect when fips was enabled