diff --git a/test/test-functions b/test/test-functions
index 6523db01b9..58685526c2 100644
--- a/test/test-functions
+++ b/test/test-functions
@@ -516,6 +516,8 @@ install_systemd() {
 
     # enable debug logging in PID1
     echo LogLevel=debug >> $initdir/etc/systemd/system.conf
+    # store coredumps in journal
+    echo Storage=journal >> $initdir/etc/systemd/coredump.conf
 }
 
 get_ldpath() {