diff --git a/tests/topotests/lib/topotest.py b/tests/topotests/lib/topotest.py
index d1985b008e..ab3e5d34e0 100644
--- a/tests/topotests/lib/topotest.py
+++ b/tests/topotests/lib/topotest.py
@@ -428,8 +428,7 @@ def ip4_route_zebra(node, vrf_name=None):
 
     lines = output.splitlines()
     header_found = False
-    while lines and (not strip(lines[0])
-                        or not header_found):
+    while lines and (not lines[0].strip() or not header_found):
         if '> - selected route' in lines[0]:
             header_found = True
         lines = lines[1:]