diff --git a/starcluster/node.py b/starcluster/node.py
index 39d70a207..88e2b075e 100644
--- a/starcluster/node.py
+++ b/starcluster/node.py
@@ -728,7 +728,7 @@ def mount_nfs_shares(self, server_node, remote_paths):
         server_node - remote server node that is sharing the remote_paths
         remote_paths - list of remote paths to mount from server_node
         """
-        self.ssh.execute('/etc/init.d/portmap start')
+        self.ssh.execute('/etc/init.d/portmap start', ignore_exit_status=True)
         # TODO: move this fix for xterm somewhere else
         self.ssh.execute('mount -t devpts none /dev/pts',
                          ignore_exit_status=True)