diff --git a/nixos/tests/ifstate/initrd-partial-broken-config.nix b/nixos/tests/ifstate/initrd-partial-broken-config.nix
index 2acd9226dde9..c29540ccd390 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/ifstate/initrd-partial-broken-config.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/ifstate/initrd-partial-broken-config.nix
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ in
         };
 
         boot.initrd = {
+          # otherwise the interfaces do not get created
+          kernelModules = [ "virtio_net" ];
+
           network = {
             enable = true;
             ifstate = lib.mkMerge [
@@ -46,6 +49,7 @@ in
               }
             ];
           };
+
           systemd = {
             enable = true;
             network.enable = false;
diff --git a/nixos/tests/ifstate/initrd-wireguard.nix b/nixos/tests/ifstate/initrd-wireguard.nix
index 9fe2fb1c3be1..932e6bf5aece 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/ifstate/initrd-wireguard.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/ifstate/initrd-wireguard.nix
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ in
         };
 
         boot.initrd = {
+          # otherwise the interfaces do not get created
+          kernelModules = [ "virtio_net" ];
+
           network = {
             enable = true;
             ifstate =
@@ -76,6 +79,7 @@ in
                 allowIfstateToDrasticlyIncreaseInitrdSize = true;
               };
           };
+
           systemd = {
             enable = true;
             network.enable = false;
diff --git a/nixos/tests/ifstate/initrd.nix b/nixos/tests/ifstate/initrd.nix
index 01ed9a513ccd..546f5c8114bd 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/ifstate/initrd.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/ifstate/initrd.nix
@@ -26,12 +26,16 @@ in
       };
 
       boot.initrd = {
+        # otherwise the interfaces do not get created
+        kernelModules = [ "virtio_net" ];
+
         network = {
           enable = true;
           ifstate = mkIfStateConfig 1 // {
             allowIfstateToDrasticlyIncreaseInitrdSize = true;
           };
         };
+
         systemd = {
           enable = true;
           network.enable = false;