diff --git a/src/tests/ftest/harness/core_files.py b/src/tests/ftest/harness/core_files.py
index a017b8bba7a..9f947e1b8f6 100644
--- a/src/tests/ftest/harness/core_files.py
+++ b/src/tests/ftest/harness/core_files.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 """
   (C) Copyright 2021-2024 Intel Corporation.
+  (C) Copyright 2026 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
 
   SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause-Patent
 """
@@ -88,6 +89,9 @@ def test_core_files(self):
             # Display the journalctl log for the process that was sent the signal
             self.server_managers[0].manager.dump_logs(host)
 
+        # The rank in the errored state may transition to excluded state; allow either in tearDown
+        self.server_managers[0].update_expected_states(ranks, ["Joined", "Errored", "Excluded"])
+
         self.log.info("Test passed")
 
     def test_core_files_hw(self):