diff --git a/scripts/rest_client.py b/scripts/rest_client.py
index 2b5cc18d7..7cb5c368d 100755
--- a/scripts/rest_client.py
+++ b/scripts/rest_client.py
@@ -184,7 +184,9 @@ class FtRestClient():
 
     def ping(self):
         """simple ping"""
-        if self.show_config()['state'] == "running":
+        if not self.show_config():
+            return {"status": "not_running"}
+        elif self.show_config()['state'] == "running":
             return {"status": "pong"}
         else:
             return {"status": "not_running"}