diff --git a/meta/lib/oeqa/controllers/masterimage.py b/meta/lib/oeqa/controllers/masterimage.py
index d151e24bd7..f2585d4860 100644
--- a/meta/lib/oeqa/controllers/masterimage.py
+++ b/meta/lib/oeqa/controllers/masterimage.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import subprocess
 import oeqa.targetcontrol
 import oeqa.utils.sshcontrol as sshcontrol
 import oeqa.utils.commands as commands
+from oeqa.utils import CommandError
 
 from abc import ABCMeta, abstractmethod
 
@@ -94,7 +95,10 @@ class MasterImageHardwareTarget(oeqa.targetcontrol.BaseTarget):
     def power_ctl(self, msg):
         if self.powercontrol_cmd:
             cmd = "%s %s" % (self.powercontrol_cmd, msg)
-            commands.runCmd(cmd, preexec_fn=os.setsid, env=self.origenv)
+            try:
+                commands.runCmd(cmd, assert_error=False, preexec_fn=os.setsid, env=self.origenv)
+            except CommandError as e:
+                bb.fatal(str(e))
 
     def power_cycle(self, conn):
         if self.powercontrol_cmd:
diff --git a/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/__init__.py b/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/__init__.py
index 8eda92763c..2260046026 100644
--- a/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,15 @@
 # Enable other layers to have modules in the same named directory
 from pkgutil import extend_path
 __path__ = extend_path(__path__, __name__)
+
+
+# Borrowed from CalledProcessError
+
+class CommandError(Exception):
+    def __init__(self, retcode, cmd, output = None):
+        self.retcode = retcode
+        self.cmd = cmd
+        self.output = output
+    def __str__(self):
+        return "Command '%s' returned non-zero exit status %d with output: %s" % (self.cmd, self.retcode, self.output)
+
diff --git a/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/commands.py b/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/commands.py
index 9b42620610..7637b9def8 100644
--- a/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/commands.py
+++ b/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/commands.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright (c) 2013 Intel Corporation
+# Copyright (c) 2013-2014 Intel Corporation
 #
 # Released under the MIT license (see COPYING.MIT)
 
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import signal
 import subprocess
 import threading
 import logging
+from oeqa.utils import CommandError
 
 class Command(object):
     def __init__(self, command, bg=False, timeout=None, data=None, **options):
@@ -84,8 +85,8 @@ class Command(object):
 class Result(object):
     pass
 
-def runCmd(command, ignore_status=False, timeout=None, **options):
 
+def runCmd(command, ignore_status=False, timeout=None, assert_error=True, **options):
     result = Result()
 
     cmd = Command(command, timeout=timeout, **options)
@@ -97,7 +98,10 @@ def runCmd(command, ignore_status=False, timeout=None, **options):
     result.pid = cmd.process.pid
 
     if result.status and not ignore_status:
-        raise AssertionError("Command '%s' returned non-zero exit status %d:\n%s" % (command, result.status, result.output))
+        if assert_error:
+            raise AssertionError("Command '%s' returned non-zero exit status %d:\n%s" % (command, result.status, result.output))
+        else:
+            raise CommandError(result.status, command, result.output)
 
     return result