diff --git a/microsoft/testsuites/dpdk/common.py b/microsoft/testsuites/dpdk/common.py
index 43de6feac0..f68723aeef 100644
--- a/microsoft/testsuites/dpdk/common.py
+++ b/microsoft/testsuites/dpdk/common.py
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def download(self) -> PurePath:
             self._git_repo,
             cwd=self._node.get_working_path(),
             ref=self._git_ref,
-            fail_on_exists=True,
+            fail_on_exists=False,
         )
         return self.asset_path
 
@@ -139,7 +139,6 @@ def download(self) -> PurePath:
                 self._tar_url,
                 file_path=str(work_path),
                 overwrite=False,
-                force_run=True,
             )
             remote_path = node.get_pure_path(tarfile)
             self.tar_filename = remote_path.name
@@ -171,8 +170,10 @@ class Installer:
 
     # setup the node before starting
     # ex: updating the kernel, enabling features, checking drivers, etc.
+    # First we download the assets to ensure asset_path is set
+    # even if we end up skipping re-installation
     def _setup_node(self) -> None:
-        raise NotImplementedError(f"_setup_node {self._err_msg}")
+        self._download_assets()
 
     # check if the package is already installed:
     # Is the package installed from source? Or from the package manager?
@@ -189,7 +190,7 @@ def _download_assets(self) -> None:
 
     # do the build and installation
     def _install(self) -> None:
-        self._download_assets()
+        ...
 
     # remove an installation
     def _uninstall(self) -> None:
@@ -269,10 +270,6 @@ def _check_if_installed(self) -> bool:
                         break
         return True
 
-    # installing dependencies is the installation in this case, so just return
-    def _install(self) -> None:
-        return
-
 
 def force_dpdk_default_source(variables: Dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     if not variables.get("dpdk_source", None):
diff --git a/microsoft/testsuites/dpdk/dpdktestpmd.py b/microsoft/testsuites/dpdk/dpdktestpmd.py
index f6a361867e..56d5d6dce8 100644
--- a/microsoft/testsuites/dpdk/dpdktestpmd.py
+++ b/microsoft/testsuites/dpdk/dpdktestpmd.py
@@ -166,6 +166,10 @@ def _setup_node(self) -> None:
         elif isinstance(self._os, Fedora):
             self._os.install_epel()
 
+        # super setup node last in this case, since we must set
+        # repo args before download/install
+        super()._setup_node()
+
     def get_installed_version(self) -> VersionInfo:
         return self._os.get_package_information("dpdk", use_cached=False)
 
@@ -197,6 +201,7 @@ def _check_if_installed(self) -> bool:
             return False
 
     def _setup_node(self) -> None:
+        super()._setup_node()
         if isinstance(self._os, Debian):
             self._package_manager_extra_args = get_debian_backport_repo_args(self._os)
             if isinstance(self._os, Ubuntu) and self._os.information.version < "22.4.0":
@@ -299,7 +304,7 @@ def download(self) -> PurePath:
             self._git_ref = git.get_tag(
                 self.asset_path, filter_=r"^v.*"  # starts w 'v'
             )
-            git.checkout(self._git_ref, cwd=self.asset_path)
+            git.checkout(self._git_ref, cwd=self.asset_path, force_run=False)
         return self.asset_path
 
 
diff --git a/microsoft/testsuites/dpdk/dpdkutil.py b/microsoft/testsuites/dpdk/dpdkutil.py
index 7918dc419e..786a70c9f5 100644
--- a/microsoft/testsuites/dpdk/dpdkutil.py
+++ b/microsoft/testsuites/dpdk/dpdkutil.py
@@ -333,6 +333,11 @@ def initialize_node_resources(
         sample_apps=sample_apps,
         force_net_failsafe_pmd=force_net_failsafe_pmd,
     )
+    # Tools will skip installation if the binary is present, so
+    # force invoke install. Installer will skip if the correct
+    # *type* of installation is already installed,
+    # taking it's creation arguments into account.
+    testpmd.install()
 
     # init and enable hugepages (required by dpdk)
     hugepages = node.tools[Hugepages]
diff --git a/microsoft/testsuites/dpdk/rdmacore.py b/microsoft/testsuites/dpdk/rdmacore.py
index 8a9df3c72c..0a0d650e1b 100644
--- a/microsoft/testsuites/dpdk/rdmacore.py
+++ b/microsoft/testsuites/dpdk/rdmacore.py
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ def _setup_node(self) -> None:
             self._os.install_epel()
         if isinstance(self._os, Debian):
             self._package_manager_extra_args = get_debian_backport_repo_args(self._os)
+        super()._setup_node()
 
     def get_installed_version(self) -> VersionInfo:
         return self._os.get_package_information("rdma-core", use_cached=False)
@@ -131,9 +132,6 @@ def _check_if_installed(self) -> bool:
 
 # implement SourceInstall for DPDK
 class RdmaCoreSourceInstaller(Installer):
-    def _download_assets(self) -> None:
-        super()._download_assets()
-
     def _check_if_installed(self) -> bool:
         try:
             package_manager_install = self._os.package_exists("rdma-core")
@@ -154,6 +152,7 @@ def _setup_node(self) -> None:
             self._os.uninstall_packages("rdma-core")
         if isinstance(self._os, Fedora):
             self._os.group_install_packages("Development Tools")
+        super()._setup_node()
 
     def _uninstall(self) -> None:
         # undo source installation (thanks ninja)