diff --git a/nixos/lib/test-driver/test_driver/machine.py b/nixos/lib/test-driver/test_driver/machine.py
index 81d3e19084ed..7ef0ae89910b 100644
--- a/nixos/lib/test-driver/test_driver/machine.py
+++ b/nixos/lib/test-driver/test_driver/machine.py
@@ -514,7 +514,11 @@ class Machine:
         return "".join(output_buffer)
 
     def execute(
-        self, command: str, check_return: bool = True, timeout: Optional[int] = 900
+        self,
+        command: str,
+        check_return: bool = True,
+        check_output: bool = True,
+        timeout: Optional[int] = 900,
     ) -> Tuple[int, str]:
         self.run_callbacks()
         self.connect()
@@ -535,6 +539,9 @@ class Machine:
         assert self.shell
         self.shell.send(out_command.encode())
 
+        if not check_output:
+            return (-2, "")
+
         # Get the output
         output = base64.b64decode(self._next_newline_closed_block_from_shell())
 
diff --git a/nixos/tests/kexec.nix b/nixos/tests/kexec.nix
index c828215bf539..5c0f0b60c853 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/kexec.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/kexec.nix
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, lib, ... }: {
       environment.systemPackages = [ pkgs.hello ];
       imports = [
         "${modulesPath}/installer/netboot/netboot-minimal.nix"
+        "${modulesPath}/testing/test-instrumentation.nix"
+        "${modulesPath}/profiles/qemu-guest.nix"
       ];
     };
   };
@@ -35,7 +37,10 @@ import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, lib, ... }: {
     # Kexec node1 to the toplevel of node2 via the kexec-boot script
     node1.succeed('touch /run/foo')
     node1.fail('hello')
-    node1.execute('${nodes.node2.config.system.build.kexecTree}/kexec-boot', check_return=False)
+    node1.execute('${nodes.node2.config.system.build.kexecTree}/kexec-boot', check_output=False)
+    node1.connected = False
+    node1.connect()
+    node1.wait_for_unit("multi-user.target")
     node1.succeed('! test -e /run/foo')
     node1.succeed('hello')
     node1.succeed('[ "$(hostname)" = "node2" ]')