diff --git a/roles/reproducer/tasks/configure_controller.yml b/roles/reproducer/tasks/configure_controller.yml
index a61128b07..ee546c464 100644
--- a/roles/reproducer/tasks/configure_controller.yml
+++ b/roles/reproducer/tasks/configure_controller.yml
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@
         default('zuul')
       }}
   block:
+    - name: Wait for controller-0 SSH to be ready
+      ansible.builtin.wait_for_connection:
+        timeout: 300
+        sleep: 5
+
     - name: Ensure directories exist
       ansible.builtin.file:
         path: "{{ cifmw_reproducer_controller_basedir }}/{{ item }}"