diff --git a/nixos/tests/plasma5.nix b/nixos/tests/plasma5.nix
index 788c8719c8d..88d4ff33436 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/plasma5.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/plasma5.nix
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import ./make-test.nix ({ pkgs, ...} :
       enable = true;
       user = "alice";
     };
+    hardware.pulseaudio.enable = true; # needed for the factl test, /dev/snd/* exists without them but udev doesn't care then
     virtualisation.memorySize = 1024;
     environment.systemPackages = [ sddm_theme ];
   };
diff --git a/nixos/tests/xfce.nix b/nixos/tests/xfce.nix
index 12d8a050d47..6cb4fae2021 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/xfce.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/xfce.nix
@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ import ./make-test.nix ({ pkgs, ...} : {
       services.xserver.desktopManager.xfce.enable = true;
 
       environment.systemPackages = [ pkgs.xorg.xmessage ];
+
+      hardware.pulseaudio.enable = true; # needed for the factl test, /dev/snd/* exists without them but udev doesn't care then
+
+      virtualisation.memorySize = 1024;
     };
 
   testScript =
diff --git a/nixos/tests/xfce4-14.nix b/nixos/tests/xfce4-14.nix
index d9b10aabaa1..94378f0c8d3 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/xfce4-14.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/xfce4-14.nix
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ import ./make-test.nix ({ pkgs, ...} : {
       services.xserver.displayManager.auto.user = "alice";
 
       services.xserver.desktopManager.xfce4-14.enable = true;
+
+      hardware.pulseaudio.enable = true; # needed for the factl test, /dev/snd/* exists without them but udev doesn't care then
+  
+      virtualisation.memorySize = 1024;
     };
 
   testScript =