diff --git a/docker/services/ironic-pxe.yaml b/docker/services/ironic-pxe.yaml
index c255baab53..7f84d5e045 100644
--- a/docker/services/ironic-pxe.yaml
+++ b/docker/services/ironic-pxe.yaml
@@ -95,10 +95,15 @@ outputs:
               file:
                 path: /etc/xinetd.d/tftp
                 state: absent
+            - name: query if xinetd is active
+              failed_when: false
+              shell: systemctl is-active xinetd
+              register: xinetd_active_result
             - name: restart xinetd in order to free tftp port
               service:
                 name: xinetd
                 state: restarted
+              when: xinetd_active_result.rc == 0
         - when: step|int == 3
           block:
             - name: Set fact for removal of tftp-server package