diff --git a/nixos/tests/kea.nix b/nixos/tests/kea.nix
index 51db35bede69..90b9491039c4 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/kea.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/kea.nix
@@ -223,6 +223,7 @@ import ./make-test-python.nix (
       ''
         start_all()
         router.wait_for_unit("kea-dhcp4-server.service")
+        client.systemctl("start systemd-networkd-wait-online.service")
         client.wait_for_unit("systemd-networkd-wait-online.service")
         client.wait_until_succeeds("ping -c 5 10.0.0.1")
         router.wait_until_succeeds("ping -c 5 10.0.0.3")
diff --git a/nixos/tests/systemd-bpf.nix b/nixos/tests/systemd-bpf.nix
index 2820218b2286..bc51d08497de 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/systemd-bpf.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/systemd-bpf.nix
@@ -39,7 +39,9 @@ import ./make-test-python.nix (
 
     testScript = ''
       start_all()
+      node1.systemctl("start systemd-networkd-wait-online.service")
       node1.wait_for_unit("systemd-networkd-wait-online.service")
+      node2.systemctl("start systemd-networkd-wait-online.service")
       node2.wait_for_unit("systemd-networkd-wait-online.service")
 
       with subtest("test RestrictNetworkInterfaces= works"):
diff --git a/nixos/tests/systemd-networkd-bridge.nix b/nixos/tests/systemd-networkd-bridge.nix
index 1c21cc113167..ec0547ce5cc4 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/systemd-networkd-bridge.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/systemd-networkd-bridge.nix
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ import ./make-test-python.nix (
       start_all()
 
       for n in network_nodes + network_switches:
+          n.systemctl("start systemd-networkd-wait-online.service")
           n.wait_for_unit("systemd-networkd-wait-online.service")
 
       node1.succeed("ping 10.0.0.2 -w 10 -c 1")
diff --git a/nixos/tests/systemd-networkd-dhcpserver-static-leases.nix b/nixos/tests/systemd-networkd-dhcpserver-static-leases.nix
index 4604b28caf91..512925eb9f5b 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/systemd-networkd-dhcpserver-static-leases.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/systemd-networkd-dhcpserver-static-leases.nix
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ import ./make-test-python.nix (
       start_all()
 
       with subtest("check router network configuration"):
+        router.systemctl("start systemd-networkd-wait-online.service")
         router.wait_for_unit("systemd-networkd-wait-online.service")
         eth1_status = router.succeed("networkctl status eth1")
         assert "Network File: /etc/systemd/network/01-eth1.network" in eth1_status, \
@@ -80,6 +81,7 @@ import ./make-test-python.nix (
         assert "10.0.0.1" in eth1_status, "Did not find expected router IPv4"
 
       with subtest("check client network configuration"):
+        client.systemctl("start systemd-networkd-wait-online.service")
         client.wait_for_unit("systemd-networkd-wait-online.service")
         eth1_status = client.succeed("networkctl status eth1")
         assert "Network File: /etc/systemd/network/40-eth1.network" in eth1_status, \
diff --git a/nixos/tests/systemd-networkd.nix b/nixos/tests/systemd-networkd.nix
index 2923967cc897..44ea52435c7b 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/systemd-networkd.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/systemd-networkd.nix
@@ -96,10 +96,12 @@ in import ./make-test-python.nix ({pkgs, ... }: {
   };
 testScript = ''
     start_all()
-    node1.succeed("systemctl start systemd-networkd-wait-online@eth1.service")
+    node1.systemctl("start systemd-networkd-wait-online@eth1.service")
+    node1.systemctl("start systemd-networkd-wait-online.service")
     node1.wait_for_unit("systemd-networkd-wait-online@eth1.service")
     node1.wait_for_unit("systemd-networkd-wait-online.service")
-    node2.succeed("systemctl start systemd-networkd-wait-online@eth1.service")
+    node2.systemctl("start systemd-networkd-wait-online@eth1.service")
+    node2.systemctl("start systemd-networkd-wait-online.service")
     node2.wait_for_unit("systemd-networkd-wait-online@eth1.service")
     node2.wait_for_unit("systemd-networkd-wait-online.service")