diff --git a/ansible/roles/test/tasks/restart_syncd.yml b/ansible/roles/test/tasks/restart_syncd.yml
index 4f63013314..499da37246 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/test/tasks/restart_syncd.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/test/tasks/restart_syncd.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
     seconds: 10
 
 - name: Look for syncd process
-  shell: pgrep "\<syncd\>" -a
+  shell: pgrep syncd -a -x
   register: syncd_out
   ignore_errors: yes