diff --git a/tests/cloud_tests/instances/nocloudkvm.py b/tests/cloud_tests/instances/nocloudkvm.py
index 76ffb383..ef14157f 100644
--- a/tests/cloud_tests/instances/nocloudkvm.py
+++ b/tests/cloud_tests/instances/nocloudkvm.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ class NoCloudKVMInstance(base.Instance):
     """NoCloud KVM backed instance."""
 
     platform_name = "nocloud-kvm"
+    _ssh_client = None
 
     def __init__(self, platform, name, properties, config, features,
                  user_data, meta_data):
@@ -52,6 +53,10 @@ class NoCloudKVMInstance(base.Instance):
             os.remove(self.pid_file)
 
         self.pid = None
+        if self._ssh_client:
+            self._ssh_client.close()
+            self._ssh_client = None
+
         super(NoCloudKVMInstance, self).destroy()
 
     def _execute(self, command, stdin=None, env=None):
@@ -99,12 +104,13 @@ class NoCloudKVMInstance(base.Instance):
         except paramiko.SSHException as e:
             raise util.InTargetExecuteError(
                 b'', b'', -1, command, self.name, reason=e)
-        finally:
-            client.close()
 
     def _ssh_connect(self, hostname='localhost', username='ubuntu',
                      banner_timeout=120, retry_attempts=30):
         """Connect via SSH."""
+        if self._ssh_client:
+            return self._ssh_client
+
         private_key = paramiko.RSAKey.from_private_key_file(self.ssh_key_file)
         client = paramiko.SSHClient()
         client.set_missing_host_key_policy(paramiko.AutoAddPolicy())
@@ -113,6 +119,7 @@ class NoCloudKVMInstance(base.Instance):
                 client.connect(hostname=hostname, username=username,
                                port=self.ssh_port, pkey=private_key,
                                banner_timeout=banner_timeout)
+                self._ssh_client = client
                 return client
             except (paramiko.SSHException, TypeError):
                 time.sleep(1)