diff --git a/nixos/tests/systemd-nspawn.nix b/nixos/tests/systemd-nspawn.nix
index 1a4251ef069e..b86762233d18 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/systemd-nspawn.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/systemd-nspawn.nix
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ in {
     start_all()
 
     server.wait_for_unit("nginx.service")
+    client.systemctl("start network-online.target")
     client.wait_for_unit("network-online.target")
     client.succeed("machinectl pull-raw --verify=signature http://server/testimage.raw")
     client.succeed(