diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index dcb93f44a1b..fd5fc45d799 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -50,10 +50,13 @@
 from tests.platform_tests.args.normal_reboot_args import add_normal_reboot_args
 from ptf import testutils # lgtm[py/unused-import]
 from tests.common.config_reload import config_reload
+from tests.common.helpers.assertions import pytest_assert as pt_assert
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 cache = FactsCache()
 
+DUTHOSTS_FIXTURE_FAILED_RC = 15
+
 pytest_plugins = ('tests.common.plugins.ptfadapter',
                   'tests.common.plugins.ansible_fixtures',
                   'tests.common.plugins.dut_monitor',
@@ -272,6 +275,11 @@ def get_specified_duts(request):
 
     return duts
 
+def pytest_sessionfinish(session, exitstatus):
+    if session.config.cache.get("duthosts_fixture_failed", None):
+        session.config.cache.set("duthosts_fixture_failed", None)
+        session.exitstatus = DUTHOSTS_FIXTURE_FAILED_RC
+
 
 @pytest.fixture(name="duthosts", scope="session")
 def fixture_duthosts(enhance_inventory, ansible_adhoc, tbinfo, request):
@@ -282,7 +290,14 @@ def fixture_duthosts(enhance_inventory, ansible_adhoc, tbinfo, request):
         mandatory argument for the class constructors.
     @param tbinfo: fixture provides information about testbed.
     """
-    return DutHosts(ansible_adhoc, tbinfo, get_specified_duts(request))
+    try:
+        host = DutHosts(ansible_adhoc, tbinfo, get_specified_duts(request))
+        return host
+    except BaseException as e:
+        logger.error("Failed to initialize duthosts.")
+        request.config.cache.set("duthosts_fixture_failed", True)
+        pt_assert(False, "!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! duthosts fixture failed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
+                  "Exception: {}".format(repr(e)))
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
diff --git a/tests/run_tests.sh b/tests/run_tests.sh
index ebe7ced1543..8b61e5c2320 100755
--- a/tests/run_tests.sh
+++ b/tests/run_tests.sh
@@ -309,6 +309,11 @@ function run_individual_tests()
                 echo "=== Sanity check failed for $test_script. Skip rest of the scripts if there is any. ==="
                 return ${ret_code}
             fi
+            # rc 15 means duthosts fixture failed
+            if [ ${ret_code} -eq 15 ]; then
+                echo "=== duthosts fixture failed for $test_script. Skip rest of the scripts if there is any. ==="
+                return ${ret_code}
+            fi
 
             EXIT_CODE=1
             if [[ ${TEST_MAX_FAIL} != 0 ]]; then