diff --git a/tools/harness-thci/OpenThread.py b/tools/harness-thci/OpenThread.py
index 04a12aa0f..467286cf5 100644
--- a/tools/harness-thci/OpenThread.py
+++ b/tools/harness-thci/OpenThread.py
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ class OpenThread(IThci):
     isPowerDown = False              # indicate if Thread device experiences a power down event
     isWhiteListEnabled = False       # indicate if Thread device enables white list filter
     isBlackListEnabled = False       # indicate if Thread device enables black list filter
+    _whiteList = set()               # cache whitelist devices when white list filter is enabled
+    _blackList = set()               # cache blacklist devices when black list filter is enabled
     isActiveCommissioner = False     # indicate if Thread device is an active commissioner
     _is_net = False                  # whether device is through ser2net
     _lines = None                    # buffered lines read from device
@@ -462,9 +464,23 @@ class OpenThread(IThci):
                 else:
                     self.hasActiveDatasetToCommit = False
 
+            # restore whitelist if rejoin after reset
+            if self.isPowerDown and self.isWhiteListEnabled:
+                self.__enableWhiteList()
+                for addr in self._whiteList:
+                    self.addAllowMAC(addr)
+
+            # restore blacklist if rejoin after reset
+            if self.isPowerDown and self.isBlackListEnabled:
+                self.__enableBlackList()
+                for addr in self._blackList:
+                    self.addBlockedMAC(addr)
+
             if self.__sendCommand('ifconfig up')[0] == 'Done':
                 self.__setRouterSelectionJitter(1)
-                return self.__sendCommand('thread start')[0] == 'Done'
+                if self.__sendCommand('thread start')[0] == 'Done':
+                    self.isPowerDown = False
+                    return True
             else:
                 return False
         except Exception, e:
@@ -903,7 +919,11 @@ class OpenThread(IThci):
         """
         print '%s call addBlockedMAC' % self.port
         print xEUI
-        macAddr = self.__convertLongToString(xEUI)
+        if isinstance(xEUI, str):
+            macAddr = xEUI
+        else:
+            macAddr = self.__convertLongToString(xEUI)
+
         try:
             # if blocked device is itself
             if macAddr == self.mac:
@@ -915,6 +935,7 @@ class OpenThread(IThci):
 
             cmd = 'blacklist add %s' % macAddr
             print cmd
+            self._blackList.add(macAddr)
             return self.__sendCommand(cmd)[0] == 'Done'
         except Exception, e:
             ModuleHelper.WriteIntoDebugLogger("addBlockedMAC() Error: " + str(e))
@@ -931,13 +952,18 @@ class OpenThread(IThci):
         """
         print '%s call addAllowMAC' % self.port
         print xEUI
-        macAddr = self.__convertLongToString(xEUI)
+        if isinstance(xEUI, str):
+            macAddr = xEUI
+        else:
+            macAddr = self.__convertLongToString(xEUI)
+
         try:
             if not self.isWhiteListEnabled:
                 self.__enableWhiteList()
 
             cmd = 'whitelist add %s' % macAddr
             print cmd
+            self._whiteList.add(macAddr)
             return self.__sendCommand(cmd)[0] == 'Done'
         except Exception, e:
             ModuleHelper.WriteIntoDebugLogger("addAllowMAC() Error: " + str(e))
@@ -955,6 +981,7 @@ class OpenThread(IThci):
         try:
             if self.__sendCommand('blacklist clear')[0] == 'Done':
                 self.__disableBlackList()
+                self._blackList.clear()
                 return True
             else:
                 return False
@@ -974,6 +1001,7 @@ class OpenThread(IThci):
         try:
             if self.__sendCommand('whitelist clear')[0] == 'Done':
                 self.__disableWhiteList()
+                self._whiteList.clear()
                 self.clearBlockList()
                 return True
             else:
@@ -1096,8 +1124,8 @@ class OpenThread(IThci):
     def powerDown(self):
         """power down the Thread device"""
         print '%s call powerDown' % self.port
-        self.isPowerDown = True
         self._sendline('reset')
+        self.isPowerDown = True
 
     def powerUp(self):
         """power up the Thread device"""
@@ -1120,6 +1148,7 @@ class OpenThread(IThci):
         print '%s call reboot' % self.port
         try:
             self._sendline('reset')
+            self.isPowerDown = True
             time.sleep(3)
 
             self.__startOpenThread()
@@ -1214,6 +1243,14 @@ class OpenThread(IThci):
         try:
             self._sendline('factoryreset')
             self._read()
+            if self.isWhiteListEnabled:
+                self.isWhiteListEnabled = False
+                self.WhiteList.clear()
+
+            if self.isBlackListEnabled:
+                self.isBlackListEnabled = False
+                self.BlackList.clear()
+
         except Exception, e:
             ModuleHelper.WriteIntoDebugLogger("reset() Error: " + str(e))
 
@@ -1261,7 +1298,9 @@ class OpenThread(IThci):
             self.setActiveTimestamp(self.activetimestamp)
 
             self.isWhiteListEnabled = False
+            self._whiteList.clear()
             self.isBlackListEnabled = False
+            self._blackList.clear()
             self.isActiveCommissioner = False
         except Exception, e:
             ModuleHelper.WriteIntoDebugLogger("setDefaultValue() Error: " + str(e))
@@ -1373,6 +1412,7 @@ class OpenThread(IThci):
         print timeout
         try:
             self._sendline('reset')
+            self.isPowerDown = True
             time.sleep(timeout)
 
             if self.deviceRole == Thread_Device_Role.SED: