diff --git a/test/test-functions b/test/test-functions
index b269cd3524..bfd6b6662a 100644
--- a/test/test-functions
+++ b/test/test-functions
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ IS_BUILT_WITH_ASAN=$(is_built_with_asan && echo yes || echo no)
 
 if [[ "$IS_BUILT_WITH_ASAN" = "yes" ]]; then
     STRIP_BINARIES=no
-    SKIP_INITRD=yes
+    SKIP_INITRD="${SKIP_INITRD:-yes}"
     PATH_TO_INIT=$ROOTLIBDIR/systemd-under-asan
     QEMU_MEM="1536M"
     QEMU_SMP=4