diff --git a/tests/host_tools/network.py b/tests/host_tools/network.py
index 787bc080c17..7d2e5cf6a5b 100644
--- a/tests/host_tools/network.py
+++ b/tests/host_tools/network.py
@@ -58,7 +58,13 @@ def __init__(self, netns, ssh_key: Path, host, user, *, on_error=None):
         # _init_connection loops until it can connect to the guest
         # dumping debug state on every iteration is not useful or wanted, so
         # only dump it once if _all_ iterations fail.
-        self._init_connection()
+        try:
+            self._init_connection()
+        except Exception as exc:
+            if on_error:
+                on_error(exc)
+
+            raise
 
         self._on_error = on_error