diff --git a/tests/tests_ntp_provider3.yml b/tests/tests_ntp_provider3.yml
index 1dcc272e..eaacfb28 100644
--- a/tests/tests_ntp_provider3.yml
+++ b/tests/tests_ntp_provider3.yml
@@ -43,5 +43,10 @@
             timeout: 2
 
         - name: Check ntpd service
-          shell: ntpq -c rv | grep 'associd=0'
+          shell: |
+            set -eu
+            if set -o | grep -q pipefail; then
+              set -o pipefail  # no pipefail on debian, some ubuntu
+            fi
+            ntpq -c rv | grep 'associd=0'
           changed_when: false
diff --git a/tests/tests_ntp_provider5.yml b/tests/tests_ntp_provider5.yml
index 5d817b2f..9f141cf7 100644
--- a/tests/tests_ntp_provider5.yml
+++ b/tests/tests_ntp_provider5.yml
@@ -38,5 +38,10 @@
             timeout: 2
 
         - name: Check ntpd service
-          shell: ntpq -c rv | grep 'associd=0'
+          shell: |
+            set -eu
+            if set -o | grep -q pipefail; then
+              set -o pipefail  # no pipefail on debian, some ubuntu
+            fi
+            ntpq -c rv | grep 'associd=0'
           changed_when: false
diff --git a/tests/tests_ntp_provider6.yml b/tests/tests_ntp_provider6.yml
index 5fde67da..77afcd88 100644
--- a/tests/tests_ntp_provider6.yml
+++ b/tests/tests_ntp_provider6.yml
@@ -70,7 +70,12 @@
           changed_when: false
 
         - name: Check ntpd service
-          shell: ntpq -c rv | grep 'associd=0'
+          shell: |
+            set -eu
+            if set -o | grep -q pipefail; then
+              set -o pipefail  # no pipefail on debian, some ubuntu
+            fi
+            ntpq -c rv | grep 'associd=0'
           when: not is_ntp_default
           changed_when: false
 
@@ -88,7 +93,12 @@
             timeout: 2
 
         - name: Check ntpd service
-          shell: ntpq -c rv | grep 'associd=0'
+          shell: |
+            set -eu
+            if set -o | grep -q pipefail; then
+              set -o pipefail  # no pipefail on debian, some ubuntu
+            fi
+            ntpq -c rv | grep 'associd=0'
           when: is_ntp_default | bool
           changed_when: false