diff --git a/scripts/rest_client.py b/scripts/rest_client.py
index 7cb5c368d..4d667879d 100755
--- a/scripts/rest_client.py
+++ b/scripts/rest_client.py
@@ -184,9 +184,10 @@ class FtRestClient():
 
     def ping(self):
         """simple ping"""
-        if not self.show_config():
+        configstatus = self.show_config()
+        if not configstatus:
             return {"status": "not_running"}
-        elif self.show_config()['state'] == "running":
+        elif configstatus['state'] == "running":
             return {"status": "pong"}
         else:
             return {"status": "not_running"}