diff --git a/quads/tools/netcat.py b/quads/tools/netcat.py
index 31ed800a9..bde583cf1 100755
--- a/quads/tools/netcat.py
+++ b/quads/tools/netcat.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ def __init__(self, ip, port=22, loop=None):
         self.loop = loop if loop else get_running_loop()
 
     async def __aenter__(self):
+        await self.connect()
         return self
 
     async def __aexit__(self, *args):
diff --git a/quads/tools/validate_env.py b/quads/tools/validate_env.py
index 45bf4c935..79c26dd19 100755
--- a/quads/tools/validate_env.py
+++ b/quads/tools/validate_env.py
@@ -127,8 +127,8 @@ async def post_system_test(self):
                 for host in pending:
                     logger.info(host)
                     try:
-                        async with Netcat(host) as nc:
-                            healthy = await nc.health_check()
+                        nc = Netcat(host)
+                        healthy = await nc.health_check()
                     except OSError:
                         healthy = False
                     if not healthy:
@@ -190,8 +190,8 @@ async def post_network_test(self):
         hosts_down = []
         for host in self.hosts:
             try:
-                async with Netcat(host.name) as nc:
-                    healthy = await nc.health_check()
+                nc = Netcat(host.name)
+                healthy = await nc.health_check()
             except OSError:
                 healthy = False
             if not healthy: