diff --git a/mininet/net.py b/mininet/net.py
index 0ef0a043bfe5f6d29447db7e3f8b9f3cd16de17d..d8836b3e53209486a0928f0716ff81374577e61b 100755
--- a/mininet/net.py
+++ b/mininet/net.py
@@ -595,6 +595,8 @@ def _parsePingFull( pingOutput ):
         r += r'(\d+\.\d+)/(\d+\.\d+)/(\d+\.\d+)/(\d+\.\d+) ms'
         m = re.search( r, pingOutput )
         if m is None:
+            if received == 0:
+                return errorTuple
             error( '*** Error: could not parse ping output: %s\n' %
                    pingOutput )
             return errorTuple