diff --git a/test/integration/smoke/test_network_permissions.py b/test/integration/smoke/test_network_permissions.py
index cd55c5af745..fe2c685684d 100644
--- a/test/integration/smoke/test_network_permissions.py
+++ b/test/integration/smoke/test_network_permissions.py
@@ -733,6 +733,12 @@ class TestNetworkPermissions(cloudstackTestCase):
         self.exec_command("self.user_apiclient", command, expected=False)
         self.exec_command("self.otheruser_apiclient", command, expected=True)
 
+        # 21a. Start vm2 before destroying - as restore VM removes root volume causing failure to destroy VM on VMware
+        if self.hypervisor.lower() in ["vmware"]:
+            command = """self.virtual_machine.start({apiclient})"""
+            self.exec_command("self.user_apiclient", command, expected=False)
+            self.exec_command("self.otheruser_apiclient", command, expected=True)
+
         # 22. Destroy vm2, should succeed by vm owner
         command = """self.virtual_machine.delete({apiclient}, expunge=False)"""
         self.exec_command("self.user_apiclient", command, expected=False)