diff --git a/tests/cli/lib/lib.sh b/tests/cli/lib/lib.sh
index ea6637d7..cb7d3f0d 100755
--- a/tests/cli/lib/lib.sh
+++ b/tests/cli/lib/lib.sh
@@ -46,7 +46,9 @@ verify_image() {
     SSH_OPTS="-o StrictHostKeyChecking=no $3"
     rlLogInfo "verify_image: SSH_OPTS:'$SSH_OPTS' SSH_USER:'$SSH_USER' SSH_MACHINE: '$SSH_MACHINE'"
     check_root_account "$@"
-    check_kernel_cmdline "$@"
+    if [ "$CHECK_CMDLINE" != 0 ]; then
+        check_kernel_cmdline "$@"
+    fi
 }
 
 check_root_account() {