diff --git a/trove/guestagent/datastore/experimental/mongodb/manager.py b/trove/guestagent/datastore/experimental/mongodb/manager.py
index f1ab8c085c..0a337f9945 100644
--- a/trove/guestagent/datastore/experimental/mongodb/manager.py
+++ b/trove/guestagent/datastore/experimental/mongodb/manager.py
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ class Manager(periodic_task.PeriodicTasks):
 
         self.status.begin_install()
         self.app.install_if_needed(packages)
+        self.app.wait_for_start()
         self.app.stop_db()
         self.app.clear_storage()
         mount_point = system.MONGODB_MOUNT_POINT
diff --git a/trove/guestagent/datastore/experimental/mongodb/service.py b/trove/guestagent/datastore/experimental/mongodb/service.py
index 463e00b7d6..fe0fb8fbd9 100644
--- a/trove/guestagent/datastore/experimental/mongodb/service.py
+++ b/trove/guestagent/datastore/experimental/mongodb/service.py
@@ -126,7 +126,10 @@ class MongoDBApp(object):
             pass
         except KeyError:
             raise RuntimeError("MongoDB service is not discovered.")
+        self.wait_for_start(update_db=update_db)
 
+    def wait_for_start(self, update_db=False):
+        LOG.debug('Waiting for MongoDB to start.')
         if not self.status.wait_for_real_status_to_change_to(
                 ds_instance.ServiceStatuses.RUNNING,
                 self.state_change_wait_time, update_db):
@@ -144,6 +147,7 @@ class MongoDBApp(object):
                 # There's nothing more we can do...
             self.status.end_install_or_restart()
             raise RuntimeError("Could not start MongoDB.")
+        LOG.debug('MongoDB started successfully.')
 
     def start_db_with_conf_changes(self, config_contents):
         LOG.info(_("Starting MongoDB with configuration changes."))
@@ -418,16 +422,11 @@ class MongoDBAppStatus(service.BaseDbStatus):
 
     def _get_actual_db_status(self):
         try:
-            if self._is_config_server() is True:
-                status_check = (system.CMD_STATUS %
-                                (netutils.get_my_ipv4() +
-                                 ' --port %s' % CONFIGSVR_PORT))
-            else:
-                status_check = (system.CMD_STATUS %
-                                netutils.get_my_ipv4())
-
-            out, err = utils.execute_with_timeout(status_check, shell=True,
-                                                  check_exit_code=[0, 1])
+            port = CONFIGSVR_PORT if self._is_config_server() else MONGODB_PORT
+            out, err = utils.execute_with_timeout(
+                'mongostat', '--host', str(netutils.get_my_ipv4()),
+                '--port', str(port), '-n', str(1), check_exit_code=[0, 1]
+            )
             if not err:
                 return ds_instance.ServiceStatuses.RUNNING
             else:
diff --git a/trove/guestagent/datastore/experimental/mongodb/system.py b/trove/guestagent/datastore/experimental/mongodb/system.py
index 81e00d0f03..619fd29426 100644
--- a/trove/guestagent/datastore/experimental/mongodb/system.py
+++ b/trove/guestagent/datastore/experimental/mongodb/system.py
@@ -21,9 +21,6 @@ from trove.guestagent import pkg
 OS_NAME = operating_system.get_os()
 
 MONGODB_MOUNT_POINT = "/var/lib/mongodb"
-# After changing bind address mongodb accepts connection
-# on real IP, not on the localhost
-CMD_STATUS = "mongostat --host %s -n 1"
 
 TMP_CONFIG = "/tmp/mongodb.conf.tmp"
 CONFIG_CANDIDATES = ["/etc/mongodb.conf", "/etc/mongod.conf"]
diff --git a/trove/tests/unittests/guestagent/test_mongodb_cluster_manager.py b/trove/tests/unittests/guestagent/test_mongodb_cluster_manager.py
index dd09561852..baf2d38ef4 100644
--- a/trove/tests/unittests/guestagent/test_mongodb_cluster_manager.py
+++ b/trove/tests/unittests/guestagent/test_mongodb_cluster_manager.py
@@ -193,6 +193,7 @@ class GuestAgentMongoDBClusterManagerTest(trove_testtools.TestCase):
     @mock.patch.object(service.MongoDBApp, 'clear_storage')
     @mock.patch.object(service.MongoDBApp, 'start_db')
     @mock.patch.object(service.MongoDBApp, 'stop_db')
+    @mock.patch.object(service.MongoDBApp, 'wait_for_start')
     @mock.patch.object(service.MongoDBApp, 'install_if_needed')
     @mock.patch.object(service.MongoDBAppStatus, 'begin_install')
     def _prepare_method(self, instance_id, instance_type, key, *args):