diff --git a/test/utils.py b/test/utils.py
index 257c27d..cbbd8d4 100755
--- a/test/utils.py
+++ b/test/utils.py
@@ -1,14 +1,16 @@
 #!/usr/bin/python
 
 import subprocess
+import re
 
 def run_cmd(cmd):
     p = subprocess.Popen(cmd, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
     (stdout, stderr) = p.communicate()
     return (stdout, stderr, p.returncode)
 
 def get_IP():
     (stdout, stderr, returncode) = run_cmd(['hostname', '-i'])
     if returncode != 0:
         raise RuntimeError, "Failed to run hostname -i:\n" + stderr
-    return stdout.replace('\n', '')
+    # in case multiple IP addresses are returned, use only the first.
+    return re.sub(r'\s.*', '', stdout)