diff --git a/nixos/tests/guix/publish.nix b/nixos/tests/guix/publish.nix
index a15e00b0fa98..eb56fc97478c 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/guix/publish.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/guix/publish.nix
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ in {
 
     # Now it's the client turn to make use of it.
     substitute_server = "http://server.local:${toString publishPort}"
+    client.systemctl("start network-online.target")
     client.wait_for_unit("network-online.target")
     response = client.succeed(f"curl {substitute_server}")
     assert "Guix Substitute Server" in response