diff --git a/test/zdtm/static/detached_namespace_with_bindmount.c b/test/zdtm/static/detached_namespace_with_bindmount.c
index 700f6b0a45..2019224053 100644
--- a/test/zdtm/static/detached_namespace_with_bindmount.c
+++ b/test/zdtm/static/detached_namespace_with_bindmount.c
@@ -126,6 +126,9 @@ static int child(void *arg)
 	char ns_path[PATH_MAX], *net_bind = (char *)arg;
 	int ppid = getppid(), ret = 1, sk = -1;
 
+	if (system("ip link set up dev lo"))
+		goto err;
+
 	if (create_self_netns_bind(net_bind))
 		goto err;
 
diff --git a/test/zdtm/static/detached_namespace_with_bindmount.desc b/test/zdtm/static/detached_namespace_with_bindmount.desc
index 8b580b71ad..bd7a0e0d9a 100644
--- a/test/zdtm/static/detached_namespace_with_bindmount.desc
+++ b/test/zdtm/static/detached_namespace_with_bindmount.desc
@@ -1 +1,6 @@
-{'flavor': 'ns uns', 'flags': 'suid', 'ropts': '--no-mntns-compat-mode'}
+{
+	'deps': ['/sbin/ip|bin/ip', '/bin/sh'],
+	'flavor': 'ns uns',
+	'flags': 'suid',
+	'ropts': '--no-mntns-compat-mode'
+}
diff --git a/test/zdtm/static/netns_sysfs.c b/test/zdtm/static/netns_sysfs.c
index e2e394f743..125c711e1e 100644
--- a/test/zdtm/static/netns_sysfs.c
+++ b/test/zdtm/static/netns_sysfs.c
@@ -34,6 +34,11 @@ static int netns_child(void *arg)
 	char ip_cmd[64];
 	char *path = (char *)arg;
 
+	if (system("ip link set up dev lo")) {
+		futex_set_and_wake(futex, EMERGENCY_ABORT);
+		return 1;
+	}
+
 	snprintf(ip_cmd, sizeof(ip_cmd), "ip link add name %s type bridge",
 		 NETNS_SYSFS_ZDTMBR);
 
diff --git a/test/zdtm/static/ns_file_bindmount.c b/test/zdtm/static/ns_file_bindmount.c
index 510c45ad72..89351b3c8b 100644
--- a/test/zdtm/static/ns_file_bindmount.c
+++ b/test/zdtm/static/ns_file_bindmount.c
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ futex_t *futex;
 
 static int child(void *unused)
 {
+	if (system("ip link set up dev lo")) {
+		futex_set_and_wake(futex, EMERGENCY_ABORT);
+		return 1;
+	}
+
 	futex_set_and_wake(futex, CHILD_READY);
 	futex_wait_while_lt(futex, TEST_FINISH);
 	return 0;
diff --git a/test/zdtm/static/ns_file_bindmount.desc b/test/zdtm/static/ns_file_bindmount.desc
index 8b580b71ad..d786a5137e 100644
--- a/test/zdtm/static/ns_file_bindmount.desc
+++ b/test/zdtm/static/ns_file_bindmount.desc
@@ -1 +1,6 @@
-{'flavor': 'ns uns', 'flags': 'suid', 'ropts': '--no-mntns-compat-mode'}
+{
+	'deps': ['/sbin/ip|/bin/ip', '/bin/sh'],
+	'flavor': 'ns uns',
+	'flags': 'suid',
+	'ropts': '--no-mntns-compat-mode'
+}
diff --git a/test/zdtm/static/openvswitch00.c b/test/zdtm/static/openvswitch00.c
index a20de3b1a9..3d8db1c436 100644
--- a/test/zdtm/static/openvswitch00.c
+++ b/test/zdtm/static/openvswitch00.c
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		pr_perror("can't unshare");
 		return 1;
 	}
+
+	if (system("ip link set up dev lo"))
+		goto err;
 #endif
 
 	if (mkdir(dirname, 0700) < 0) {