diff --git a/pkg/remote/remote_direct.go b/pkg/remote/remote_direct.go
index fd05b3ea1..2b109fa50 100644
--- a/pkg/remote/remote_direct.go
+++ b/pkg/remote/remote_direct.go
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ import (
 	"opendev.org/airship/airshipctl/pkg/config"
 	"opendev.org/airship/airshipctl/pkg/environment"
 	"opendev.org/airship/airshipctl/pkg/log"
+
+	"opendev.org/airship/airshipctl/pkg/remote/power"
 )
 
 // DoRemoteDirect bootstraps the ephemeral node.
@@ -36,6 +38,20 @@ func (b baremetalHost) DoRemoteDirect(settings *environment.AirshipCTLSettings)
 	log.Debugf("Bootstrapping ephemeral host '%s' with ID '%s' and BMC Address '%s'.", b.HostName, b.NodeID(),
 		b.BMCAddress)
 
+	powerStatus, err := b.SystemPowerStatus(b.Context)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// Power on node if it is off
+	if powerStatus != power.StatusOn {
+		log.Debugf("Ephemeral node has power status '%s'. Attempting to power on.", powerStatus.String())
+		if err = b.SystemPowerOn(b.Context); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Perform remote direct operations
 	if remoteConfig.IsoURL == "" {
 		return ErrMissingBootstrapInfoOption{What: "isoURL"}
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/remote/remote_direct_test.go b/pkg/remote/remote_direct_test.go
index 914686ba5..af56fc611 100644
--- a/pkg/remote/remote_direct_test.go
+++ b/pkg/remote/remote_direct_test.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 
 	"opendev.org/airship/airshipctl/pkg/config"
 	"opendev.org/airship/airshipctl/pkg/environment"
+	"opendev.org/airship/airshipctl/pkg/remote/power"
 	"opendev.org/airship/airshipctl/pkg/remote/redfish"
 	"opendev.org/airship/airshipctl/testutil/redfishutils"
 )
@@ -69,6 +70,7 @@ func TestDoRemoteDirectMissingISOURL(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
 	rMock.On("NodeID").Times(1).Return(systemID)
+	rMock.On("SystemPowerStatus", ctx).Times(1).Return(power.StatusOn, nil)
 
 	ephemeralHost := baremetalHost{
 		rMock,
@@ -91,6 +93,37 @@ func TestDoRemoteDirectRedfish(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
 	rMock.On("NodeID").Times(1).Return(systemID)
+	rMock.On("SystemPowerStatus", ctx).Times(1).Return(power.StatusOn, nil)
+	rMock.On("SetVirtualMedia", ctx, isoURL).Times(1).Return(nil)
+	rMock.On("SetBootSourceByType", ctx).Times(1).Return(nil)
+	rMock.On("NodeID").Times(1).Return(systemID)
+	rMock.On("RebootSystem", ctx).Times(1).Return(nil)
+
+	ephemeralHost := baremetalHost{
+		rMock,
+		ctx,
+		redfishURL,
+		"doc-name",
+		username,
+		password,
+	}
+
+	cfg := &config.RemoteDirect{
+		IsoURL: isoURL,
+	}
+
+	settings := initSettings(t, withRemoteDirectConfig(cfg), withTestDataPath("base"))
+	err = ephemeralHost.DoRemoteDirect(settings)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+}
+
+func TestDoRemoteDirectRedfishNodePoweredOff(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx, rMock, err := redfishutils.NewClient(redfishURL, false, false, username, password)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+
+	rMock.On("NodeID").Times(1).Return(systemID)
+	rMock.On("SystemPowerStatus", ctx).Times(1).Return(power.StatusOff, nil)
+	rMock.On("SystemPowerOn", ctx).Times(1).Return(nil)
 	rMock.On("SetVirtualMedia", ctx, isoURL).Times(1).Return(nil)
 	rMock.On("SetBootSourceByType", ctx).Times(1).Return(nil)
 	rMock.On("NodeID").Times(1).Return(systemID)
@@ -121,6 +154,7 @@ func TestDoRemoteDirectRedfishVirtualMediaError(t *testing.T) {
 	expectedErr := redfish.ErrRedfishClient{Message: "Unable to set virtual media."}
 
 	rMock.On("NodeID").Times(1).Return(systemID)
+	rMock.On("SystemPowerStatus", ctx).Times(1).Return(power.StatusOn, nil)
 	rMock.On("SetVirtualMedia", ctx, isoURL).Times(1).Return(expectedErr)
 	rMock.On("SetBootSourceByType", ctx).Times(1).Return(nil)
 	rMock.On("NodeID").Times(1).Return(systemID)
@@ -151,6 +185,7 @@ func TestDoRemoteDirectRedfishBootSourceError(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
 	rMock.On("NodeID").Times(1).Return(systemID)
+	rMock.On("SystemPowerStatus", ctx).Times(1).Return(power.StatusOn, nil)
 	rMock.On("SetVirtualMedia", ctx, isoURL).Times(1).Return(nil)
 
 	expectedErr := redfish.ErrRedfishClient{Message: "Unable to set boot source."}
@@ -183,6 +218,7 @@ func TestDoRemoteDirectRedfishRebootError(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
 	rMock.On("NodeID").Times(1).Return(systemID)
+	rMock.On("SystemPowerStatus", ctx).Times(1).Return(power.StatusOn, nil)
 	rMock.On("SetVirtualMedia", ctx, isoURL).Times(1).Return(nil)
 	rMock.On("SetVirtualMedia", ctx, isoURL).Times(1).Return(nil)
 	rMock.On("SetBootSourceByType", ctx).Times(1).Return(nil)