diff --git a/ranger_tempest_plugin/config.py b/ranger_tempest_plugin/config.py
index 5f09487..8c33b92 100755
--- a/ranger_tempest_plugin/config.py
+++ b/ranger_tempest_plugin/config.py
@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ ORM_GROUP_OPTIONS = [
     cfg.StrOpt("catalog_type",
                default='ranger',
                help="ranger catalog type"),
-    cfg.StrOpt("alt_region_available",
-               default=False,
-               help="Alt region for ranger tempest testing"),
+    cfg.BoolOpt("alt_region_available",
+                default=False,
+                help="Alt region for ranger tempest testing"),
     cfg.StrOpt("alt_region",
                default='',
                help="Provide alternate region for creating"
diff --git a/ranger_tempest_plugin/tests/api/base.py b/ranger_tempest_plugin/tests/api/base.py
index e94dd11..317962a 100755
--- a/ranger_tempest_plugin/tests/api/base.py
+++ b/ranger_tempest_plugin/tests/api/base.py
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ class BaseOrmTest(test.BaseTestCase):
         # Get regions in ranger deployment
         _, regions_list = cls.region_client.list_regions()
         regions = [x for x in regions_list['regions']]
-
         for region in regions:
             if region['id'] is CONF.identity.region or \
                 (region['id'] is CONF.ranger.alt_region and
diff --git a/ranger_tempest_plugin/tests/api/test_flavors.py b/ranger_tempest_plugin/tests/api/test_flavors.py
index e5d3eb1..f2b55bf 100755
--- a/ranger_tempest_plugin/tests/api/test_flavors.py
+++ b/ranger_tempest_plugin/tests/api/test_flavors.py
@@ -150,6 +150,33 @@ class TestTempestFms(fms_base.FmsBaseOrmTest):
 
         self._wait_for_flavor_status_on_dcp(flavor_id, 'Success')
 
+    def _wait_for_flavor_region_status(self, flavor, region_name):
+        region_index = 0
+        start = int(time.time())
+        for regions in flavor['regions']:
+            if regions['name'] == region_name:
+                region_status = regions['status']
+                while region_status != 'Success':
+                    time.sleep(self.build_interval)
+                    region_status = \
+                        self.fms_client.get_flavor(flavor['id'])
+                    region_status = \
+                        region_status['regions'][region_index]['status']
+                    if region_status == 'Error':
+                        message = ('Flavor region %s failed to'
+                                   ' reach success status'
+                                   ' and is in ERROR status on orm' %
+                                   region_name)
+                        raise exceptions.TempestException(message)
+                    if int(time.time()) - start >= self.build_timeout:
+                        message = ('Flavor %s region %s failed to reach'
+                                   ' success status within the required'
+                                   ' time (%s s) on orm and is in %s status.'
+                                   % (flavor['id'], region_name,
+                                      self.build_timeout,
+                                      region_status))
+                region_index += 1
+
     def _restore_default_tags(self, flavor_id):
         tag_body = {"tags": self.tags}
         _, body = self.client.update_tags(flavor_id, tag_body)
@@ -303,31 +330,33 @@ class TestTempestFms(fms_base.FmsBaseOrmTest):
         # restore deleted tags
         self._exec_tags_function(self.flavor['id'], restore_tags, 'add', None)
 
+    @testtools.skipUnless(CONF.ranger.alt_region_available,
+                          'Alt region not provided, skipping this test')
     @decorators.idempotent_id('ec74d68f-b42a-41a8-9685-ff5eca25ea0c')
     def test_add_delete_flavor_region(self):
         # setup data to add region
-        region_id = CONF.identity.region
-        post_body = self._get_flavor_params(set_region=False)
+        post_body = self._get_flavor_params()
         flavor = self._data_setup(post_body)
         test_flavor_id = flavor['id']
 
-        post_region_body = '{"regions": [{"name": "%s"}]}' % (region_id)
+        post_region_body = \
+            '{"regions": [{"name": "%s"}]}' % (CONF.ranger.alt_region)
         post_region_body = json.loads(post_region_body)
         _, body = self.client.add_flavor_regions(test_flavor_id,
                                                  post_region_body)
         self._wait_for_flavor_status_on_dcp(test_flavor_id, 'Success')
         _, body = self.client.get_flavor(test_flavor_id)
-        self.assertEqual(body["flavor"]["regions"][0]["name"],
+        self._wait_for_flavor_region_status(flavor, CONF.ranger.alt_region)
+        self.assertEqual(body["flavor"]["regions"][1]["name"],
                          post_region_body["regions"][0]["name"])
 
         # remove added region and then check to confirm flavor status
         _, body = self.client.delete_flavor_region(test_flavor_id,
-                                                   region_id)
-        # flavor status must show 'no regions' when it has no region assigned
-        self._wait_for_flavor_status_on_dcp(test_flavor_id, 'no regions')
-        # flavor region is now empty after the lone region was removed
+                                                   CONF.ranger.alt_region)
+        self._wait_for_flavor_status_on_dcp(test_flavor_id, 'Success')
         _, body = self.client.get_flavor(test_flavor_id)
-        self.assertTrue(len(body["flavor"]["regions"]) == 0)
+
+        self.assertTrue(len(body["flavor"]["regions"]) == 1)
 
     @SYNC('flavor')
     @decorators.idempotent_id('71404409-5d95-472c-8dac-b49a1c0c4b37')