diff --git a/jeannie b/jeannie
index 02a37e8..bc14f8b 100755
--- a/jeannie
+++ b/jeannie
@@ -4402,7 +4402,7 @@ stop_remote_kubernetes_services() {
     local target="$1"
 
     echo "--> Stopping Kubernetes services on remote worker ${target}..."
-    ssh -o ConnectTimeout=5 "${target}" \
+    if ! ssh -o ConnectTimeout=5 "${target}" \
         "sudo systemctl stop kubelet 2>/dev/null || true
 if command -v crictl >/dev/null 2>&1; then
   sudo crictl stop --all 2>/dev/null || true
@@ -4419,7 +4419,9 @@ elif command -v ctr >/dev/null 2>&1; then
   done
 fi
 if [ '${LAB_CLUSTER_STOP_CONTAINERD:-false}' = 'true' ]; then sudo systemctl stop containerd 2>/dev/null || true; sudo systemctl reset-failed containerd 2>/dev/null || true; fi
-sudo systemctl reset-failed kubelet 2>/dev/null || true"
+sudo systemctl reset-failed kubelet 2>/dev/null || true"; then
+        echo "Warning: could not SSH to ${target}; continuing because Pimox VM shutdown follows." >&2
+    fi
 }
 
 start_remote_kubernetes_services() {