diff --git a/monkey/infection_monkey/exploit/sshexec.py b/monkey/infection_monkey/exploit/sshexec.py
index 31757a5e3..c59871257 100644
--- a/monkey/infection_monkey/exploit/sshexec.py
+++ b/monkey/infection_monkey/exploit/sshexec.py
@@ -177,8 +177,15 @@ class SSHExploiter(HostExploiter):
         raise FailedExploitationError
 
     def _exploit_host(self) -> ExploiterResultData:
+        port = self._get_ssh_port()
+        is_open, _ = check_tcp_port(self.host.ip_addr, port)
+        if not is_open:
+            self.exploit_result.error_message = f"SSH port is closed on {self.host}, skipping"
+            logger.info(self.exploit_result.error_message)
+            return self.exploit_result
+
         try:
-            ssh = self._exploit()
+            ssh = self._exploit(port)
         except FailedExploitationError as err:
             self.exploit_result.error_message = str(err)
             logger.error(str(err))
@@ -203,26 +210,7 @@ class SSHExploiter(HostExploiter):
             )
         return self.exploit_result
 
-    def _exploit(self) -> paramiko.SSHClient:
-        port = SSH_PORT
-
-        # if ssh banner found on different port, use that port.
-        for servkey, servdata in list(self.host.services.items()):
-            if servdata.get("name") == "ssh" and servkey.startswith("tcp-"):
-                port = int(servkey.replace("tcp-", ""))
-
-        is_open, _ = check_tcp_port(self.host.ip_addr, port)
-        if not is_open:
-            self.exploit_result.error_message = f"SSH port is closed on {self.host}, skipping"
-            self._publish_exploitation_event(
-                target=self.host.ip_addr,
-                exploitation_success=False,
-                error_message=self.exploit_result.error_message,
-                tags=(SSH_EXPLOITER_TAG,),
-            )
-            logger.info(self.exploit_result.error_message)
-            raise FailedExploitationError(self.exploit_result.error_message)
-
+    def _exploit(self, port) -> paramiko.SSHClient:
         try:
             ssh = self.exploit_with_ssh_keys(port)
         except FailedExploitationError:
@@ -294,6 +282,16 @@ class SSHExploiter(HostExploiter):
         except Exception as exc:
             raise FailedExploitationError(f"Error running monkey on victim {self.host}: ({exc})")
 
+    def _get_ssh_port(self) -> int:
+        port = SSH_PORT
+
+        # if ssh banner found on different port, use that port.
+        for servkey, servdata in list(self.host.services.items()):
+            if servdata.get("name") == "ssh" and servkey.startswith("tcp-"):
+                port = int(servkey.replace("tcp-", ""))
+
+        return port
+
     def _get_victim_os(self, ssh: paramiko.SSHClient) -> bool:
         try:
             _, stdout, _ = ssh.exec_command("uname -o", timeout=SSH_EXEC_TIMEOUT)