diff --git a/lisa/microsoft/testsuites/core/provisioning.py b/lisa/microsoft/testsuites/core/provisioning.py
index 885d8aaf5e..117d7693b5 100644
--- a/lisa/microsoft/testsuites/core/provisioning.py
+++ b/lisa/microsoft/testsuites/core/provisioning.py
@@ -592,10 +592,12 @@ def _smoke_test(
                     saved_path=log_path, stage="reboot", force_run=True
                 )
 
-            # if node cannot be connected after reboot, it should be failed.
-            if isinstance(e, TcpConnectionException):
-                raise BadEnvironmentStateException(f"after reboot, {e}")
-            raise PassedException(e)
+            # any reboot error should fail and mark the environment as bad.
+            raise BadEnvironmentStateException(
+                f"reboot failed on node '{node.name}': {e}. "
+                f"Check serial console logs under '{log_path}' and verify the node is "
+                "reachable."
+            ) from e
         return timer.elapsed()
 
     def is_mana_device_discovered(self, node: RemoteNode) -> bool: