diff --git a/nixos/tests/login.nix b/nixos/tests/login.nix
index 9844ad492e8..2a7c063d303 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/login.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/login.nix
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import ./make-test.nix ({ pkgs, latestKernel ? false, ... }:
   machine =
     { pkgs, lib, ... }:
     { boot.kernelPackages = lib.mkIf latestKernel pkgs.linuxPackages_latest;
+      sound.enable = true; # needed for the factl test, /dev/snd/* exists without them but udev doesn't care then
     };
 
   testScript =