diff --git a/meta/lib/oeqa/core/target/__init__.py b/meta/lib/oeqa/core/target/__init__.py
index 1382aa9b5239..177f648fe358 100644
--- a/meta/lib/oeqa/core/target/__init__.py
+++ b/meta/lib/oeqa/core/target/__init__.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ class OETarget(object):
 
     def __init__(self, logger, *args, **kwargs):
         self.logger = logger
+        self.runner = None
 
     @abstractmethod
     def start(self):
diff --git a/meta/lib/oeqa/runtime/case.py b/meta/lib/oeqa/runtime/case.py
index 9515ca2f3d62..2a47771a3d47 100644
--- a/meta/lib/oeqa/runtime/case.py
+++ b/meta/lib/oeqa/runtime/case.py
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ class OERuntimeTestCase(OETestCase):
         uninstall_package(self)
 
 def run_network_serialdebug(runner):
+    if not runner:
+        return
     status, output = runner.run_serial("ip addr")
     print("ip addr on target: %s %s" % (output, status))
     status, output = runner.run_serial("ping -c 1 %s" % self.target.server_ip)