diff --git a/lib/backend.py b/lib/backend.py
index 634d85cd591c64988d340cec9880eee0b28fc75a..401710c7203c5013a67792a37c04aff2207d6d49 100644
--- a/lib/backend.py
+++ b/lib/backend.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import stat
 import errno
 import re
 import subprocess
+import random
 
 from ganeti import logger
 from ganeti import errors
@@ -200,6 +201,7 @@ def VerifyNode(what):
 
   if 'nodelist' in what:
     result['nodelist'] = {}
+    random.shuffle(what['nodelist'])
     for node in what['nodelist']:
       success, message = _GetSshRunner().VerifyNodeHostname(node)
       if not success: