diff --git a/tests/avocado/boot_xen.py b/tests/avocado/boot_xen.py
index f29bc58b9e..490a127a3e 100644
--- a/tests/avocado/boot_xen.py
+++ b/tests/avocado/boot_xen.py
@@ -30,23 +30,22 @@ class BootXen(LinuxKernelTest):
     timeout = 90
     XEN_COMMON_COMMAND_LINE = 'dom0_mem=128M loglvl=all guest_loglvl=all'
 
-    def fetch_guest_kernel(self):
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(BootXen, self).setUp()
+
         # Using my own built kernel - which works
         kernel_url = ('https://fileserver.linaro.org/'
                       's/JSsewXGZ6mqxPr5/download?path=%2F&files='
                       'linux-5.9.9-arm64-ajb')
         kernel_sha1 = '4f92bc4b9f88d5ab792fa7a43a68555d344e1b83'
-        kernel_path = self.fetch_asset(kernel_url,
-                                       asset_hash=kernel_sha1)
-
-        return kernel_path
+        self.kernel_path = self.fetch_asset(kernel_url,
+                                            asset_hash=kernel_sha1)
 
     def launch_xen(self, xen_path):
         """
         Launch Xen with a dom0 guest kernel
         """
         self.log.info("launch with xen_path: %s", xen_path)
-        kernel_path = self.fetch_guest_kernel()
 
         self.vm.set_console()
 
@@ -56,7 +55,7 @@ class BootXen(LinuxKernelTest):
                          '-append', self.XEN_COMMON_COMMAND_LINE,
                          '-device',
                          'guest-loader,addr=0x47000000,kernel=%s,bootargs=console=hvc0'
-                         % (kernel_path))
+                         % (self.kernel_path))
 
         self.vm.launch()