diff --git a/tests/test_community_messages.py b/tests/test_community_messages.py
index f3998d93..cc1ce023 100644
--- a/tests/test_community_messages.py
+++ b/tests/test_community_messages.py
@@ -9,9 +9,7 @@ from src.steps.common import StepsCommon
 class TestCommunityMessages(StepsCommon):
     @pytest.mark.flaky(reruns=2)
     def test_community_messages_baseline(self):
-        try:
-            assert self.community_nodes
-        except:
+        if not self.community_nodes:
             self.setup_community_nodes(node_limit=1)
             self.join_created_communities()
 
diff --git a/tests/test_fetch_community.py b/tests/test_fetch_community.py
index 64d9dd4c..bad5fdd5 100644
--- a/tests/test_fetch_community.py
+++ b/tests/test_fetch_community.py
@@ -9,9 +9,7 @@ from datetime import datetime
 class TestFetchCommunity(StepsCommon):
     @pytest.mark.flaky(reruns=2)
     def test_fetch_community_baseline(self):
-        try:
-            self.community_nodes
-        except:
+        if not self.community_nodes:
             self.setup_community_nodes()
 
         failed_community_fetches = []
diff --git a/tests/test_join_community.py b/tests/test_join_community.py
index 4ee8b7d9..d9451045 100644
--- a/tests/test_join_community.py
+++ b/tests/test_join_community.py
@@ -9,9 +9,7 @@ from datetime import datetime
 class TestJoinCommunity(StepsCommon):
     @pytest.mark.flaky(reruns=2)
     def test_join_community_baseline(self):
-        try:
-            self.community_nodes
-        except:
+        if not self.community_nodes:
             self.setup_community_nodes()
 
         community_join_requests = []
diff --git a/tests/test_leave_community.py b/tests/test_leave_community.py
index 09d6ccc1..8b89d8c6 100644
--- a/tests/test_leave_community.py
+++ b/tests/test_leave_community.py
@@ -8,9 +8,7 @@ from datetime import datetime
 class TestLeaveCommunity(StepsCommon):
     @pytest.mark.flaky(reruns=2)
     def test_leave_community_baseline(self):
-        try:
-            self.community_nodes
-        except:
+        if not self.community_nodes:
             self.setup_community_nodes()
             self.join_created_communities()