diff --git a/src/metadataserver/builtin_scripts/commissioning_scripts/bmc_config.py b/src/metadataserver/builtin_scripts/commissioning_scripts/bmc_config.py
index 42e4c79e4..11df96313 100755
--- a/src/metadataserver/builtin_scripts/commissioning_scripts/bmc_config.py
+++ b/src/metadataserver/builtin_scripts/commissioning_scripts/bmc_config.py
@@ -396,6 +396,29 @@ class IPMI(BMCConfig):
         return first_unused
 
     def add_bmc_user(self):
+        """Create/configure an IPMI user, but with several tries"""
+        attempt = 1
+        max_attempts = 5
+        backoff_amount = 30
+        exceptions_caught = []
+        while attempt <= max_attempts:
+            print("INFO: Attempt to add IPMI BMC user - %s" % attempt)
+            try:
+                self._add_bmc_user()
+            except Exception as e:
+                exceptions_caught.append(e)
+                if (attempt + 1) > max_attempts:
+                    # This is our last attempt, exiting
+                    print("ERROR: Unable to add BMC user!\n{}".format(exceptions_caught), file=sys.stderr)
+                    sys.exit(1)
+
+            if self.password is None:
+                time.sleep(attempt * backoff_amount)
+            else:
+                return
+            attempt += 1
+
+    def _add_bmc_user(self):
         if not self.username:
             self.username = "maas"
         user_number = self._pick_user_number(self.username)
@@ -417,7 +440,7 @@ class IPMI(BMCConfig):
                     if self._bmc_config[user_number].get(key) != value:
                         self._bmc_set(user_number, key, value)
             except Exception:
-                pass
+                raise
             else:
                 self.password = password
                 # Not all user settings are available on all BMC keys, its
@@ -432,8 +455,6 @@ class IPMI(BMCConfig):
                     "Yes",
                 )
                 return
-        print("ERROR: Unable to add BMC user!", file=sys.stderr)
-        sys.exit(1)
 
     def _config_ipmi_lan_channel_settings(self):
         """Enable IPMI-over-Lan (Lan_Channel) if it is disabled"""