diff --git a/ironic_python_agent/hardware.py b/ironic_python_agent/hardware.py
index 3ea1e45c7..0b6926554 100644
--- a/ironic_python_agent/hardware.py
+++ b/ironic_python_agent/hardware.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import binascii
 import collections
 import contextlib
 import functools
+import glob
 import io
 import ipaddress
 import json
@@ -446,7 +447,7 @@ def md_restart(raid_device):
 def md_get_raid_devices():
     """Get all discovered Software RAID (md) devices
 
-    :return: A python dict containing details about the discovered RAID
+    :returns: A python dict containing details about the discovered RAID
       devices
     """
     # Note(Boushra): mdadm output is similar to lsblk, but not
@@ -509,7 +510,7 @@ def list_all_block_devices(block_type='disk',
                                the short and the long serial from udevadm if
                                possible.
 
-    :return: A list of BlockDevices
+    :returns: A list of BlockDevices
     """
 
     def _is_known_device(existing, new_device_name):
@@ -925,7 +926,7 @@ class HardwareManager(object, metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
         """List physical block devices
 
         :param include_partitions: If to include partitions
-        :return: A list of BlockDevices
+        :returns: A list of BlockDevices
         """
         raise errors.IncompatibleHardwareMethodError
 
@@ -936,7 +937,7 @@ class HardwareManager(object, metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
         :param block_devices: a list of BlockDevices
         :param just_raids: a boolean to signify that only RAID devices
                            are important
-        :return: A set of names of devices on the skip list
+        :returns: A set of names of devices on the skip list
         """
         raise errors.IncompatibleHardwareMethodError
 
@@ -948,7 +949,7 @@ class HardwareManager(object, metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
 
         :param node: A node used to check the skip list
         :param include_partitions: If to include partitions
-        :return: A list of BlockDevices
+        :returns: A list of BlockDevices
         """
         raise errors.IncompatibleHardwareMethodError
 
@@ -981,7 +982,7 @@ class HardwareManager(object, metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
 
         List all USB final devices, based on lshw information
 
-        :return: a dict, containing product, vendor, and handle information
+        :returns: a dict, containing product, vendor, and handle information
         """
         raise errors.IncompatibleHardwareMethodError()
 
@@ -1027,7 +1028,7 @@ class HardwareManager(object, metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
                  may require manual intervention due to the contents and
                  operational risk which exists as it could also be a sign
                  of an environmental misconfiguration.
-        :return: a dictionary in the form {device.name: erasure output}
+        :returns: a dictionary in the form {device.name: erasure output}
         """
         erase_results = {}
         block_devices = self.list_block_devices_check_skip_list(node)
@@ -1088,7 +1089,7 @@ class HardwareManager(object, metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
         This inventory is sent to Ironic on lookup and to Inspector on
         inspection.
 
-        :return: a dictionary representing inventory
+        :returns: a dictionary representing inventory
         """
         start = time.time()
         LOG.info('Collecting full inventory')
@@ -1161,7 +1162,7 @@ class HardwareManager(object, metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
 
         :param node: Ironic node object
         :param ports: list of Ironic port objects
-        :return: a list of cleaning steps, where each step is described as a
+        :returns: a list of cleaning steps, where each step is described as a
                  dict as defined above
 
         """
@@ -1210,7 +1211,7 @@ class HardwareManager(object, metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
 
         :param node: Ironic node object
         :param ports: list of Ironic port objects
-        :return: a list of deploying steps, where each step is described as a
+        :returns: a list of deploying steps, where each step is described as a
                  dict as defined above
 
         """
@@ -1264,7 +1265,7 @@ class HardwareManager(object, metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
 
         :param node: Ironic node object
         :param ports: list of Ironic port objects
-        :return: a list of service steps, where each step is described as a
+        :returns: a list of service steps, where each step is described as a
                  dict as defined above
 
         """
@@ -1336,7 +1337,7 @@ class GenericHardwareManager(HardwareManager):
         This inventory is sent to Ironic on lookup and to Inspector on
         inspection.
 
-        :return: a dictionary representing inventory
+        :returns: a dictionary representing inventory
         """
         with self._cached_lshw():
             return super().list_hardware_info()
@@ -1359,7 +1360,7 @@ class GenericHardwareManager(HardwareManager):
         Retrieves a json representation of the system from lshw and converts
         it to a python dict
 
-        :return: A python dict from the lshw json output
+        :returns: A python dict from the lshw json output
         """
         if self._lshw_cache:
             return self._lshw_cache
@@ -1379,7 +1380,7 @@ class GenericHardwareManager(HardwareManager):
         be converted for serialization purposes.
 
         :param interface_names: list of names of node's interfaces.
-        :return: a dict, containing the lldp data from every interface.
+        :returns: a dict, containing the lldp data from every interface.
         """
         if interface_names is None:
             interface_names = netutils.list_interfaces()
@@ -1471,7 +1472,7 @@ class GenericHardwareManager(HardwareManager):
         extra field named ``biosdevname``.
 
         :param interface_name: list of names of node's interfaces.
-        :return: the BIOS given NIC name of node's interfaces or default
+        :returns: the BIOS given NIC name of node's interfaces or default
                  as None.
         """
         global WARN_BIOSDEVNAME_NOT_FOUND
@@ -1529,6 +1530,15 @@ class GenericHardwareManager(HardwareManager):
 
         return network_interfaces_list
 
+    def any_ipmi_device_exists(self):
+        '''Check for an IPMI device to confirm IPMI capability.'''
+        for pattern in ['/dev/ipmi*', '/dev/ipmi/*', '/dev/ipmidev/*']:
+            ipmi_files = glob.glob(pattern)
+            for device in ipmi_files:
+                if utils.is_char_device(device):
+                    return True
+        return False
+
     @staticmethod
     def create_cpu_info_dict(lines):
         cpu_info = {k.strip().lower(): v.strip() for k, v in
@@ -2317,7 +2327,7 @@ class GenericHardwareManager(HardwareManager):
         """Attempt to clean the NVMe using the most secure supported method
 
         :param block_device: a BlockDevice object
-        :return: True if cleaning operation succeeded, False if it failed
+        :returns: True if cleaning operation succeeded, False if it failed
         :raises: BlockDeviceEraseError
         """
 
@@ -2382,9 +2392,12 @@ class GenericHardwareManager(HardwareManager):
     def get_bmc_address(self):
         """Attempt to detect BMC IP address
 
-        :return: IP address of lan channel or 0.0.0.0 in case none of them is
+        :returns: IP address of lan channel or 0.0.0.0 in case none of them is
                  configured properly
         """
+        if not self.any_ipmi_device_exists():
+            return None
+
         try:
             # From all the channels 0-15, only 1-11 can be assigned to
             # different types of communication media and protocols and
@@ -2419,9 +2432,13 @@ class GenericHardwareManager(HardwareManager):
     def get_bmc_mac(self):
         """Attempt to detect BMC MAC address
 
-        :return: MAC address of the first LAN channel or 00:00:00:00:00:00 in
+        :returns: MAC address of the first LAN channel or 00:00:00:00:00:00 in
                  case none of them has one or is configured properly
+        :raises: IncompatibleHardwareMethodError if no valid mac is found.
         """
+        if not self.any_ipmi_device_exists():
+            return None
+
         try:
             # From all the channels 0-15, only 1-11 can be assigned to
             # different types of communication media and protocols and
@@ -2465,10 +2482,13 @@ class GenericHardwareManager(HardwareManager):
     def get_bmc_v6address(self):
         """Attempt to detect BMC v6 address
 
-        :return: IPv6 address of lan channel or ::/0 in case none of them is
+        :returns: IPv6 address of lan channel or ::/0 in case none of them is
                  configured properly. May return None value if it cannot
                  interact with system tools or critical error occurs.
         """
+        if not self.any_ipmi_device_exists():
+            return None
+
         null_address_re = re.compile(r'^::(/\d{1,3})*$')
 
         def get_addr(channel, dynamic=False):
diff --git a/ironic_python_agent/tests/unit/test_hardware.py b/ironic_python_agent/tests/unit/test_hardware.py
index 469d96254..d161f50c8 100644
--- a/ironic_python_agent/tests/unit/test_hardware.py
+++ b/ironic_python_agent/tests/unit/test_hardware.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import binascii
+import glob
 import json
 import logging
 import os
@@ -2984,37 +2985,98 @@ class TestGenericHardwareManager(base.IronicAgentTest):
             mock_dev_file.side_effect = reads
             self.assertTrue(self.hardware._is_read_only_device(device))
 
+    @mock.patch.object(os.path, 'exists', autospec=True)
+    @mock.patch.object(os, 'stat', autospec=True)
+    @mock.patch.object(glob, 'glob', autospec=True)
+    def test_ipmi_device_exists(self, mock_glob, mock_stat, mock_exists):
+        mock_stat_result = mock.Mock()
+        mock_stat_result.st_mode = stat.S_IFCHR
+        mock_stat.return_value = mock_stat_result
+
+        # 1. Test when no device is found in default locations,
+        # but found in glob
+        mock_exists.side_effect = [False, False, False]
+        mock_glob.return_value = ['/dev/ipmi1']
+        self.assertTrue(self.hardware.any_ipmi_device_exists())
+        mock_stat.assert_called_once_with('/dev/ipmi1')
+
+        mock_exists.reset_mock()
+        mock_exists.reset_mock()
+        mock_stat.reset_mock()
+
+        # 2. Test when no device is found in default locations,
+        # but found in glob
+        mock_exists.side_effect = [False, False, False]
+        mock_glob.return_value = ['/dev/ipmidev/11']
+        self.assertTrue(self.hardware.any_ipmi_device_exists())
+        mock_stat.assert_called_once_with('/dev/ipmidev/11')
+
+        # Reset mocks
+        mock_exists.reset_mock()
+        mock_stat.reset_mock()
+        mock_glob.reset_mock()
+
+        # Test when no IPMI device is found at all
+        mock_exists.side_effect = [False, False, False]
+        mock_glob.return_value = []
+        self.assertFalse(self.hardware.any_ipmi_device_exists())
+        mock_stat.assert_not_called()
+
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_address(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_address(self, mocked_execute, mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
         mocked_execute.return_value = '192.1.2.3\n', ''
         self.assertEqual('192.1.2.3', self.hardware.get_bmc_address())
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_address_virt(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_address_virt(self, mocked_execute,
+                                  mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
         mocked_execute.side_effect = processutils.ProcessExecutionError()
         self.assertIsNone(self.hardware.get_bmc_address())
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_address_zeroed(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_address_zeroed(self, mocked_execute,
+                                    mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
         mocked_execute.return_value = '0.0.0.0\n', ''
         self.assertEqual('0.0.0.0', self.hardware.get_bmc_address())
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_address_invalid(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_address_invalid(self, mocked_execute,
+                                     mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
         # In case of invalid lan channel, stdout is empty and the error
         # on stderr is "Invalid channel"
         mocked_execute.return_value = '\n', 'Invalid channel: 55'
         self.assertEqual('0.0.0.0', self.hardware.get_bmc_address())
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_address_random_error(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_address_random_error(self, mocked_execute,
+                                          mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
         mocked_execute.return_value = '192.1.2.3\n', 'Random error message'
         self.assertEqual('192.1.2.3', self.hardware.get_bmc_address())
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_address_iterate_channels(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_address_iterate_channels(self, mocked_execute,
+                                              mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
         # For channel 1 we simulate unconfigured IP
         # and for any other we return a correct IP address
+
         def side_effect(*args, **kwargs):
             if args[0].startswith("ipmitool lan print 1"):
                 return '', 'Invalid channel 1\n'
@@ -3027,51 +3089,82 @@ class TestGenericHardwareManager(base.IronicAgentTest):
         mocked_execute.side_effect = side_effect
         self.assertEqual('192.1.2.3', self.hardware.get_bmc_address())
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_address_not_available(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_address_not_available(self, mocked_execute,
+                                           mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
         mocked_execute.return_value = '', ''
         self.assertEqual('0.0.0.0', self.hardware.get_bmc_address())
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_mac_not_available(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_mac_not_available(self, mocked_execute,
+                                       mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
         mocked_execute.return_value = '', ''
         self.assertRaises(errors.IncompatibleHardwareMethodError,
                           self.hardware.get_bmc_mac)
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_mac(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_mac(self, mocked_execute, mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
         mocked_execute.return_value = '192.1.2.3\n01:02:03:04:05:06', ''
         self.assertEqual('01:02:03:04:05:06', self.hardware.get_bmc_mac())
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_mac_virt(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_mac_virt(self, mocked_execute, mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
         mocked_execute.side_effect = processutils.ProcessExecutionError()
         self.assertIsNone(self.hardware.get_bmc_mac())
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_mac_zeroed(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_mac_zeroed(self, mocked_execute,
+                                mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
         mocked_execute.return_value = '0.0.0.0\n00:00:00:00:00:00', ''
         self.assertRaises(errors.IncompatibleHardwareMethodError,
                           self.hardware.get_bmc_mac)
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_mac_invalid(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_mac_invalid(self, mocked_execute,
+                                 mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
         # In case of invalid lan channel, stdout is empty and the error
         # on stderr is "Invalid channel"
         mocked_execute.return_value = '\n', 'Invalid channel: 55'
         self.assertRaises(errors.IncompatibleHardwareMethodError,
                           self.hardware.get_bmc_mac)
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_mac_random_error(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_mac_random_error(self, mocked_execute,
+                                      mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
         mocked_execute.return_value = ('192.1.2.3\n00:00:00:00:00:02',
                                        'Random error message')
         self.assertEqual('00:00:00:00:00:02', self.hardware.get_bmc_mac())
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_mac_iterate_channels(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_mac_iterate_channels(self, mocked_execute,
+                                          mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
         # For channel 1 we simulate unconfigured IP
         # and for any other we return a correct IP address
+
         def side_effect(*args, **kwargs):
             if args[0].startswith("ipmitool lan print 1"):
                 return '', 'Invalid channel 1\n'
@@ -3087,13 +3180,21 @@ class TestGenericHardwareManager(base.IronicAgentTest):
         mocked_execute.side_effect = side_effect
         self.assertEqual('01:02:03:04:05:06', self.hardware.get_bmc_mac())
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_v6address_not_enabled(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_v6address_not_enabled(self, mocked_execute,
+                                           mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
         mocked_execute.side_effect = [('ipv4\n', '')] * 11
         self.assertEqual('::/0', self.hardware.get_bmc_v6address())
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_v6address_dynamic_address(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_v6address_dynamic_address(self, mocked_execute,
+                                               mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
         mocked_execute.side_effect = [
             ('ipv6\n', ''),
             (hws.IPMITOOL_LAN6_PRINT_DYNAMIC_ADDR, '')
@@ -3101,8 +3202,12 @@ class TestGenericHardwareManager(base.IronicAgentTest):
         self.assertEqual('2001:1234:1234:1234:1234:1234:1234:1234',
                          self.hardware.get_bmc_v6address())
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_v6address_static_address_both(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_v6address_static_address_both(self, mocked_execute,
+                                                   mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
         dynamic_disabled = \
             hws.IPMITOOL_LAN6_PRINT_DYNAMIC_ADDR.replace('active', 'disabled')
         mocked_execute.side_effect = [
@@ -3113,13 +3218,22 @@ class TestGenericHardwareManager(base.IronicAgentTest):
         self.assertEqual('2001:5678:5678:5678:5678:5678:5678:5678',
                          self.hardware.get_bmc_v6address())
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_v6address_virt(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_v6address_virt(self, mocked_execute,
+                                    mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
         mocked_execute.side_effect = processutils.ProcessExecutionError()
         self.assertIsNone(self.hardware.get_bmc_v6address())
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_v6address_invalid_enables(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_v6address_invalid_enables(self, mocked_execute,
+                                               mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
+
         def side_effect(*args, **kwargs):
             if args[0].startswith('ipmitool lan6 print'):
                 return '', 'Failed to get IPv6/IPv4 Addressing Enables'
@@ -3127,8 +3241,13 @@ class TestGenericHardwareManager(base.IronicAgentTest):
         mocked_execute.side_effect = side_effect
         self.assertEqual('::/0', self.hardware.get_bmc_v6address())
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_v6address_invalid_get_address(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_v6address_invalid_get_address(self, mocked_execute,
+                                                   mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
+
         def side_effect(*args, **kwargs):
             if args[0].startswith('ipmitool lan6 print'):
                 if args[0].endswith('dynamic_addr') \
@@ -3139,10 +3258,14 @@ class TestGenericHardwareManager(base.IronicAgentTest):
         mocked_execute.side_effect = side_effect
         self.assertEqual('::/0', self.hardware.get_bmc_v6address())
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(hardware, 'LOG', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
     def test_get_bmc_v6address_ipmitool_invalid_stdout_format(
-            self, mocked_execute, mocked_log):
+            self, mocked_execute, mocked_log, mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
+
         def side_effect(*args, **kwargs):
             if args[0].startswith('ipmitool lan6 print'):
                 if args[0].endswith('dynamic_addr') \
@@ -3156,8 +3279,13 @@ class TestGenericHardwareManager(base.IronicAgentTest):
                              'command: %(e)s', mock.ANY)
         mocked_log.warning.assert_has_calls([one_call] * 14)
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
     @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
-    def test_get_bmc_v6address_channel_7(self, mocked_execute):
+    def test_get_bmc_v6address_channel_7(self, mocked_execute,
+                                         mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = True
+
         def side_effect(*args, **kwargs):
             if not args[0].startswith('ipmitool lan6 print 7'):
                 # ipv6 is not enabled for channels 1-6
@@ -3175,6 +3303,33 @@ class TestGenericHardwareManager(base.IronicAgentTest):
         self.assertEqual('2001:5678:5678:5678:5678:5678:5678:5678',
                          self.hardware.get_bmc_v6address())
 
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
+    @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
+    def test_get_bmc_address_no_ipmi_device(self, mock_execute,
+                                            mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = False
+        self.assertIsNone(self.hardware.get_bmc_address())
+        mock_execute.assert_not_called()
+
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
+    @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
+    def test_get_bmc_mac_no_ipmi_device(self, mock_execute,
+                                        mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = False
+        self.assertIsNone(self.hardware.get_bmc_mac())
+        mock_execute.assert_not_called()
+
+    @mock.patch.object(hardware.GenericHardwareManager,
+                       'any_ipmi_device_exists', autospec=True)
+    @mock.patch.object(il_utils, 'execute', autospec=True)
+    def test_get_bmc_v6address_no_ipmi_device(self, mock_execute,
+                                              mock_ipmi_device_exists):
+        mock_ipmi_device_exists.return_value = False
+        self.assertIsNone(self.hardware.get_bmc_v6address())
+        mock_execute.assert_not_called()
+
     @mock.patch.object(efi_utils, 'clean_boot_records', autospec=True)
     def test_clean_uefi_nvram_defaults(self, mock_efi_utils):
         self.hardware.clean_uefi_nvram(self.node, [])
diff --git a/ironic_python_agent/utils.py b/ironic_python_agent/utils.py
index cf0d3d955..0d8b7f78a 100644
--- a/ironic_python_agent/utils.py
+++ b/ironic_python_agent/utils.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import json
 import os
 import re
 import shutil
+import stat
 import subprocess
 import sys
 import tarfile
@@ -972,3 +973,13 @@ def _unmount_any_config_drives():
         _early_log('Issuing an umount command for /mnt/config...')
         execute('umount', '/mnt/config')
         time.sleep(1)
+
+
+def is_char_device(path):
+    '''Check if the specified path is a character device.'''
+    try:
+        return stat.S_ISCHR(os.stat(path).st_mode)
+    except OSError:
+        # Likely because of insufficient permission,
+        # race conditions or I/O related errors.
+        return False
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/check-for-ipmi-device-before-invocation-45b00d15c94edd00.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/check-for-ipmi-device-before-invocation-45b00d15c94edd00.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2ff562d16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/check-for-ipmi-device-before-invocation-45b00d15c94edd00.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Adds a preliminary check for IPMI device files before the BMC detection
+    attempts, optimizing `ipmitool` command calls on systems without IPMI
+    capabilities.