diff --git a/plugins/cliconf/iosxr.py b/plugins/cliconf/iosxr.py
index 48d08fc8..807ea294 100644
--- a/plugins/cliconf/iosxr.py
+++ b/plugins/cliconf/iosxr.py
@@ -248,13 +248,17 @@ def get_device_info(self):
                     device_info["network_os_model"] = match.group(1)
                     break
 
-            if "network_os_model" not in device_info:
+            try:
                 data = self.get_command_output("show inventory")
+            except AnsibleConnectionFailure:
+                data = ""
+
+            if "network_os_model" not in device_info:
                 match = re.search(r"DESCR: \"[Cc]isco (\S+ \S+)", data, re.M)
                 if match:
                     device_info["network_os_model"] = match.group(1)
 
-            data = self.get_command_output("show inventory")
+
             match = re.search(r"SN: (\S+)\n\nNAME:", data, re.M)
             if match:
                 device_info["network_os_serialnum"] = match.group(1)