diff --git a/ansible/roles/test/tasks/vnet_vxlan.yml b/ansible/roles/test/tasks/vnet_vxlan.yml
index ec6e622c20c..f319ac453c3 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/test/tasks/vnet_vxlan.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/test/tasks/vnet_vxlan.yml
@@ -167,6 +167,7 @@
 
             - name: Apply route json configuration
               shell: docker exec swss sh -c "swssconfig /vnet.route.json"
+              when: cleanup|bool
 
             - name: sleep for some time
               pause: seconds=3