diff --git a/tests/common/devices/sonic.py b/tests/common/devices/sonic.py
index 51d0b37dba1..a6151941e6b 100644
--- a/tests/common/devices/sonic.py
+++ b/tests/common/devices/sonic.py
@@ -293,6 +293,9 @@ def _get_sonic_release(self):
 
         output = self.command("sonic-cfggen -y /etc/sonic/sonic_version.yml -v release")
         if len(output['stdout_lines']) == 0:
+            # get release from OS version
+            if self.os_version:
+                return self.os_version.split('.')[0][0:6]
             return 'none'
         return output["stdout_lines"][0].strip()