diff --git a/tools/deployment/seaworthy-virt/airship_gate/stages/genesis.sh b/tools/deployment/seaworthy-virt/airship_gate/stages/genesis.sh
index c78a68924..79901241a 100755
--- a/tools/deployment/seaworthy-virt/airship_gate/stages/genesis.sh
+++ b/tools/deployment/seaworthy-virt/airship_gate/stages/genesis.sh
@@ -18,7 +18,18 @@ set -e
 source "${GATE_UTILS}"
 
 # Copies script and virtmgr private key to genesis VM
-rsync_cmd "${SCRIPT_DEPOT}/genesis.sh" "${GENESIS_NAME}:/root/airship/"
+# waits for the genesis node to complete reboot, if it is rebooted during
+# genesis setup stage.
+retries=10
+while ! rsync_cmd "${SCRIPT_DEPOT}/genesis.sh" "${GENESIS_NAME}:/root/airship/"; do
+  retries=$((retries-1))
+  if [[ "${reties}" == "0" ]]; then
+    log_error "Genesis is not reachable after ${retries} retries."
+    break
+  fi
+  log "Genesis node is not reachable yet. Retrying in 30 seconds."
+  sleep 30
+done
 
 set -o pipefail
 ssh_cmd_raw "${GENESIS_NAME}" "PROMENADE_ENCRYPTION_KEY=${PROMENADE_ENCRYPTION_KEY} /root/airship/genesis.sh" 2>&1 | tee -a "${LOG_FILE}"