diff --git a/tools/testing/ktest/ktest.pl b/tools/testing/ktest/ktest.pl
index 3bec099a6cf4..275ad8ac8872 100755
--- a/tools/testing/ktest/ktest.pl
+++ b/tools/testing/ktest/ktest.pl
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ my %default = (
     "SCP_TO_TARGET"		=> "scp \$SRC_FILE \$SSH_USER\@\$MACHINE:\$DST_FILE",
     "SCP_TO_TARGET_INSTALL"	=> "\${SCP_TO_TARGET}",
     "REBOOT"			=> "ssh \$SSH_USER\@\$MACHINE reboot",
+    "REBOOT_RETURN_CODE"	=> 255,
     "STOP_AFTER_SUCCESS"	=> 10,
     "STOP_AFTER_FAILURE"	=> 60,
     "STOP_TEST_AFTER"		=> 600,
@@ -105,6 +106,7 @@ my $reboot_type;
 my $reboot_script;
 my $power_cycle;
 my $reboot;
+my $reboot_return_code;
 my $reboot_on_error;
 my $switch_to_good;
 my $switch_to_test;
@@ -278,6 +280,7 @@ my %option_map = (
     "POST_BUILD_DIE"		=> \$post_build_die,
     "POWER_CYCLE"		=> \$power_cycle,
     "REBOOT"			=> \$reboot,
+    "REBOOT_RETURN_CODE"	=> \$reboot_return_code,
     "BUILD_NOCLEAN"		=> \$noclean,
     "MIN_CONFIG"		=> \$minconfig,
     "OUTPUT_MIN_CONFIG"		=> \$output_minconfig,
@@ -1749,6 +1752,7 @@ sub run_command {
     my $dord = 0;
     my $dostdout = 0;
     my $pid;
+    my $command_orig = $command;
 
     $command =~ s/\$SSH_USER/$ssh_user/g;
     $command =~ s/\$MACHINE/$machine/g;
@@ -1803,6 +1807,11 @@ sub run_command {
     # shift 8 for real exit status
     $run_command_status = $? >> 8;
 
+    if ($command_orig eq $default{REBOOT} &&
+	$run_command_status == $reboot_return_code) {
+	$run_command_status = 0;
+    }
+
     close(CMD);
     close(LOG) if ($dolog);
     close(RD)  if ($dord);
diff --git a/tools/testing/ktest/sample.conf b/tools/testing/ktest/sample.conf
index 6ca6ca0ce695..8c893a58b68e 100644
--- a/tools/testing/ktest/sample.conf
+++ b/tools/testing/ktest/sample.conf
@@ -887,6 +887,10 @@
 # The variables SSH_USER and MACHINE are defined.
 #REBOOT = ssh $SSH_USER@$MACHINE reboot
 
+# The return code of REBOOT
+# (default 255)
+#REBOOT_RETURN_CODE = 255
+
 # The way triple faults are detected is by testing the kernel
 # banner. If the kernel banner for the kernel we are testing is
 # found, and then later a kernel banner for another kernel version