diff --git a/ironic/drivers/modules/ilo/deploy.py b/ironic/drivers/modules/ilo/deploy.py
index 0fc4bddf87..2da4f41e67 100644
--- a/ironic/drivers/modules/ilo/deploy.py
+++ b/ironic/drivers/modules/ilo/deploy.py
@@ -175,6 +175,20 @@ class IloVirtualMediaIscsiDeploy(iscsi_deploy.ISCSIDeploy):
 
         super(IloVirtualMediaIscsiDeploy, self).prepare(task)
 
+    def prepare_cleaning(self, task):
+        """Boot into the agent to prepare for cleaning.
+
+        :param task: a TaskManager object containing the node
+        :returns: states.CLEANWAIT to signify an asynchronous prepare.
+        :raises NodeCleaningFailure: if the previous cleaning ports cannot
+            be removed or if new cleaning ports cannot be created
+        :raises: IloOperationError, if some operation on iLO failed.
+        """
+        # Powering off the Node before initiating boot for node cleaning.
+        # If node is in system POST, setting boot device fails.
+        manager_utils.node_power_action(task, states.POWER_OFF)
+        return super(IloVirtualMediaIscsiDeploy, self).prepare_cleaning(task)
+
 
 class IloVirtualMediaAgentDeploy(agent.AgentDeploy):
     """Interface for deploy-related actions."""
@@ -209,6 +223,20 @@ class IloVirtualMediaAgentDeploy(agent.AgentDeploy):
 
         super(IloVirtualMediaAgentDeploy, self).prepare(task)
 
+    def prepare_cleaning(self, task):
+        """Boot into the agent to prepare for cleaning.
+
+        :param task: a TaskManager object containing the node
+        :returns: states.CLEANWAIT to signify an asynchronous prepare.
+        :raises NodeCleaningFailure: if the previous cleaning ports cannot
+            be removed or if new cleaning ports cannot be created
+        :raises: IloOperationError, if some operation on iLO failed.
+        """
+        # Powering off the Node before initiating boot for node cleaning.
+        # If node is in system POST, setting boot device fails.
+        manager_utils.node_power_action(task, states.POWER_OFF)
+        return super(IloVirtualMediaAgentDeploy, self).prepare_cleaning(task)
+
     def get_clean_steps(self, task):
         """Get the list of clean steps from the agent.
 
@@ -286,3 +314,17 @@ class IloPXEDeploy(iscsi_deploy.ISCSIDeploy):
         manager_utils.node_power_action(task, states.POWER_OFF)
         _disable_secure_boot_if_supported(task)
         return super(IloPXEDeploy, self).tear_down(task)
+
+    def prepare_cleaning(self, task):
+        """Boot into the agent to prepare for cleaning.
+
+        :param task: a TaskManager object containing the node
+        :returns: states.CLEANWAIT to signify an asynchronous prepare.
+        :raises NodeCleaningFailure: if the previous cleaning ports cannot
+            be removed or if new cleaning ports cannot be created
+        :raises: IloOperationError, if some operation on iLO failed.
+        """
+        # Powering off the Node before initiating boot for node cleaning.
+        # If node is in system POST, setting boot device fails.
+        manager_utils.node_power_action(task, states.POWER_OFF)
+        return super(IloPXEDeploy, self).prepare_cleaning(task)
diff --git a/ironic/tests/unit/drivers/modules/ilo/test_deploy.py b/ironic/tests/unit/drivers/modules/ilo/test_deploy.py
index de2a6a99e6..dee0851388 100644
--- a/ironic/tests/unit/drivers/modules/ilo/test_deploy.py
+++ b/ironic/tests/unit/drivers/modules/ilo/test_deploy.py
@@ -283,6 +283,21 @@ class IloVirtualMediaIscsiDeployTestCase(db_base.DbTestCase):
             self.assertFalse(func_prepare_node_for_deploy.called)
             iscsi_deploy_prepare_mock.assert_called_once_with(mock.ANY, task)
 
+    @mock.patch.object(iscsi_deploy.ISCSIDeploy, 'prepare_cleaning',
+                       spec_set=True, autospec=True)
+    @mock.patch.object(manager_utils, 'node_power_action', spec_set=True,
+                       autospec=True)
+    def test_prepare_cleaning(self, node_power_action_mock,
+                              iscsi_prep_clean_mock):
+        iscsi_prep_clean_mock.return_value = states.CLEANWAIT
+        with task_manager.acquire(self.context, self.node.uuid,
+                                  shared=False) as task:
+            ret = task.driver.deploy.prepare_cleaning(task)
+            self.assertEqual(states.CLEANWAIT, ret)
+            node_power_action_mock.assert_called_once_with(task,
+                                                           states.POWER_OFF)
+            iscsi_prep_clean_mock.assert_called_once_with(mock.ANY, task)
+
 
 class IloVirtualMediaAgentDeployTestCase(db_base.DbTestCase):
 
@@ -415,6 +430,21 @@ class IloVirtualMediaAgentDeployTestCase(db_base.DbTestCase):
                 task, interface='deploy',
                 override_priorities={'erase_devices': None})
 
+    @mock.patch.object(agent.AgentDeploy, 'prepare_cleaning', spec_set=True,
+                       autospec=True)
+    @mock.patch.object(manager_utils, 'node_power_action', spec_set=True,
+                       autospec=True)
+    def test_prepare_cleaning(self, node_power_action_mock,
+                              agent_prep_clean_mock):
+        agent_prep_clean_mock.return_value = states.CLEANWAIT
+        with task_manager.acquire(self.context, self.node.uuid,
+                                  shared=False) as task:
+            ret = task.driver.deploy.prepare_cleaning(task)
+            self.assertEqual(states.CLEANWAIT, ret)
+            node_power_action_mock.assert_called_once_with(task,
+                                                           states.POWER_OFF)
+            agent_prep_clean_mock.assert_called_once_with(mock.ANY, task)
+
 
 class IloPXEDeployTestCase(db_base.DbTestCase):
 
@@ -531,3 +561,18 @@ class IloPXEDeployTestCase(db_base.DbTestCase):
                                                            states.POWER_OFF)
             self.assertTrue(mock_log.called)
             self.assertEqual(states.DELETED, returned_state)
+
+    @mock.patch.object(iscsi_deploy.ISCSIDeploy, 'prepare_cleaning',
+                       spec_set=True, autospec=True)
+    @mock.patch.object(manager_utils, 'node_power_action', spec_set=True,
+                       autospec=True)
+    def test_prepare_cleaning(self, node_power_action_mock,
+                              iscsi_prep_clean_mock):
+        iscsi_prep_clean_mock.return_value = states.CLEANWAIT
+        with task_manager.acquire(self.context, self.node.uuid,
+                                  shared=False) as task:
+            ret = task.driver.deploy.prepare_cleaning(task)
+            self.assertEqual(states.CLEANWAIT, ret)
+            node_power_action_mock.assert_called_once_with(task,
+                                                           states.POWER_OFF)
+            iscsi_prep_clean_mock.assert_called_once_with(mock.ANY, task)
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/ilo-automated-cleaning-fails-14ee438de3dd8690.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/ilo-automated-cleaning-fails-14ee438de3dd8690.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d9ee80aacb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/ilo-automated-cleaning-fails-14ee438de3dd8690.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - Fixes issue where automated cleaning fails for iLO
+    drivers.
+    Automated cleaning fails for iLO driver if iLO is
+    in System POST state. iLO does not allow setting
+    of boot device when it is in System POST state.