diff --git a/teuthology/contextutil.py b/teuthology/contextutil.py
index 55413ffa9ca..99b694ca683 100644
--- a/teuthology/contextutil.py
+++ b/teuthology/contextutil.py
@@ -119,6 +119,8 @@ class safe_while(object):
 
     def __call__(self):
         self.counter += 1
+        if self.counter == 1:
+            return True
         if self.counter > self.tries:
             error_msg = self._make_error_msg()
             if self._raise: