diff --git a/lib/jnpr/junos/device.py b/lib/jnpr/junos/device.py
index 641806803..f7bcd9c6c 100644
--- a/lib/jnpr/junos/device.py
+++ b/lib/jnpr/junos/device.py
@@ -735,6 +735,8 @@ def cli(self, command, format="text", warning=True):
             if rsp is True:
                 return ""
             if rsp.tag in ["output", "rpc-reply"]:
+                if rsp.tag == "output" and rsp.getparent() is not None:
+                    rsp = rsp.getparent()
                 encode = None if sys.version < "3" else "unicode"
                 return etree.tostring(
                     rsp, method="text", with_tail=False, encoding=encode