diff --git a/pkg/container/qemu_runner.go b/pkg/container/qemu_runner.go
index e5de87199..16aa2090e 100644
--- a/pkg/container/qemu_runner.go
+++ b/pkg/container/qemu_runner.go
@@ -449,6 +449,10 @@ func createMicroVM(ctx context.Context, cfg *Config) error {
 	retries := 6000
 	try := 0
 	for try <= retries {
+		if err := ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("checking SSH server: %w", err)		
+		}
+		
 		try++
 		time.Sleep(time.Millisecond * 500)