diff --git a/nixos/lib/test-driver/src/test_driver/driver.py b/nixos/lib/test-driver/src/test_driver/driver.py
index 9188e195cb35..4d1bb899e712 100644
--- a/nixos/lib/test-driver/src/test_driver/driver.py
+++ b/nixos/lib/test-driver/src/test_driver/driver.py
@@ -68,12 +68,16 @@ class Driver:
     and runs the tests"""
 
     tests: str
-    vlans: list[VLan]
-    machines_qemu: list[QemuMachine]
-    machines_nspawn: list[NspawnMachine]
+    vlans: list[VLan] = []
+    machines_qemu: list[QemuMachine] = []
+    machines_nspawn: list[NspawnMachine] = []
     polling_conditions: list[PollingCondition]
     global_timeout: int
     race_timer: threading.Timer
+    vm_start_scripts: dict[str, str]
+    container_start_scripts: dict[str, str]
+    vlan_ids: list[int]
+    keep_machine_state: bool
     logger: AbstractLogger
     debug: DebugAbstract
 
@@ -94,15 +98,23 @@ class Driver:
         self.tests = tests
         self.out_dir = out_dir
         self.global_timeout = global_timeout
-        self.race_timer = threading.Timer(global_timeout, self.terminate_test)
         self.logger = logger
         self.debug = debug
+        self.vlan_ids = list(set(vlans))
+        self.polling_conditions = []
+        self.keep_machine_state = keep_machine_state
+        self.global_timeout = global_timeout
+        self.vm_start_scripts = dict(zip(vm_names, vm_start_scripts))
+        self.container_start_scripts = dict(
+            zip(container_names, container_start_scripts)
+        )
 
+    def __enter__(self) -> "Driver":
+        self.race_timer = threading.Timer(self.global_timeout, self.terminate_test)
         tmp_dir = get_tmp_dir()
 
         with self.logger.nested("start all VLans"):
-            vlans = list(set(vlans))
-            self.vlans = [VLan(nr, tmp_dir, self.logger) for nr in vlans]
+            self.vlans = [VLan(nr, tmp_dir, self.logger) for nr in self.vlan_ids]
 
         self.polling_conditions = []
 
@@ -110,16 +122,16 @@ class Driver:
             QemuMachine(
                 name=name,
                 start_command=vm_start_script,
-                keep_machine_state=keep_machine_state,
+                keep_machine_state=self.keep_machine_state,
                 tmp_dir=tmp_dir,
                 callbacks=[self.check_polling_conditions],
                 out_dir=self.out_dir,
                 logger=self.logger,
             )
-            for name, vm_start_script in zip(vm_names, vm_start_scripts)
+            for name, vm_start_script in self.vm_start_scripts.items()
         ]
 
-        if len(container_start_scripts) > 0:
+        if len(self.container_start_scripts) > 0:
             self._init_nspawn_environment()
 
         self.machines_nspawn = [
@@ -128,16 +140,15 @@ class Driver:
                 start_command=container_start_script,
                 tmp_dir=tmp_dir,
                 logger=self.logger,
-                keep_machine_state=keep_machine_state,
+                keep_machine_state=self.keep_machine_state,
                 callbacks=[self.check_polling_conditions],
                 out_dir=self.out_dir,
             )
-            for name, container_start_script in zip(
-                container_names,
-                container_start_scripts,
-            )
+            for name, container_start_script in self.container_start_scripts.items()
         ]
 
+        return self
+
     def _init_nspawn_environment(self) -> None:
         assert os.geteuid() == 0, (
             f"systemd-nspawn requires root to work. You are {os.geteuid()}"
@@ -193,9 +204,6 @@ class Driver:
         machines.sort(key=lambda machine: machine.name)
         return machines
 
-    def __enter__(self) -> "Driver":
-        return self
-
     def __exit__(self, *_: Any) -> None:
         with self.logger.nested("cleanup"):
             self.race_timer.cancel()