1 files changed, 2 insertions, 2 deletions
diff --git a/test/utils/utils.go b/test/utils/utils.go
index da56a3a2e..9695835e5 100644
--- a/test/utils/utils.go
+++ b/test/utils/utils.go
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func (p *PodmanTest) PodmanAsUserBase(args []string, uid, gid uint32, cwd string
 	}
 
 	runCmd := append(wrapper, podmanBinary)
-	if p.NetworkBackend == Netavark {
+	if !p.RemoteTest && p.NetworkBackend == Netavark {
 		runCmd = append(runCmd, []string{"--network-backend", "netavark"}...)
 	}
 
@@ -439,10 +439,10 @@ func tagOutputToMap(imagesOutput []string) map[string]map[string]bool {
 // GetHostDistributionInfo returns a struct with its distribution Name and version
 func GetHostDistributionInfo() HostOS {
 	f, err := os.Open(OSReleasePath)
-	defer f.Close()
 	if err != nil {
 		return HostOS{}
 	}
+	defer f.Close()
 
 	l := bufio.NewScanner(f)
 	host := HostOS{}