diff --git a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
index 4701dbeb71df..8e329e212e7c 100644
--- a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
+++ b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
@@ -1046,8 +1046,19 @@ func validateNetwork(h *host.Host, r command.Runner) string {
 
 func trySSH(h *host.Host, ip string) {
 	sshAddr := fmt.Sprintf("%s:22", ip)
-	conn, err := net.Dial("tcp", sshAddr)
-	if err != nil {
+
+	dial := func() (err error) {
+		d := net.Dialer{Timeout: 3 * time.Second}
+		conn, err := d.Dial("tcp", sshAddr)
+		if err != nil {
+			out.WarningT("Unable to verify SSH connectivity: {{.error}}. Will retry...", out.V{"error": err})
+			return err
+		}
+		_ = conn.Close()
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	if err := retry.Expo(dial, time.Second, 13*time.Second); err != nil {
 		exit.WithCodeT(exit.IO, `minikube is unable to connect to the VM: {{.error}}
 
 This is likely due to one of two reasons:
@@ -1062,7 +1073,6 @@ Suggested workarounds:
 - Restart or reinstall {{.hypervisor}}
 - Use an alternative --vm-driver`, out.V{"error": err, "hypervisor": h.Driver.DriverName(), "ip": ip})
 	}
-	defer conn.Close()
 }
 
 func tryLookup(r command.Runner) {