diff --git a/test/README.testsuite b/test/README.testsuite
index 5c7aca43a8..fa7e73ce3a 100644
--- a/test/README.testsuite
+++ b/test/README.testsuite
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ you can even skip the "clean" and "setup" if you want to run the machine again.
 $ sudo make KERNEL_APPEND="systemd.unit=multi-user.target" run
 
 You can specify a different kernel and initramfs with $KERNEL_BIN and $INITRD.
-(Fedora's default kernel path and initramfs are used by default)
+(Fedora's or Debian's default kernel path and initramfs are used by default)
 
 $ sudo make KERNEL_BIN=/boot/vmlinuz-foo INITRD=/boot/initramfs-bar clean check
 
diff --git a/test/test-functions b/test/test-functions
index a6eea662fc..a794f3556e 100644
--- a/test/test-functions
+++ b/test/test-functions
@@ -51,8 +51,11 @@ run_qemu() {
             && KERNEL_BIN="/boot/$MACHINE_ID/$KERNEL_VER/linux"
     fi
 
+    default_fedora_initrd=/boot/initramfs-${KERNEL_VER}.img
+    default_debian_initrd=/boot/initrd.img-${KERNEL_VER}
     [ "$KERNEL_BIN" ] || KERNEL_BIN=/boot/vmlinuz-$KERNEL_VER
-    [ "$INITRD" ]     || INITRD=/boot/initramfs-${KERNEL_VER}.img
+    [ "$INITRD" ]     || { [ -e "$default_fedora_initrd" ] && INITRD=$default_fedora_initrd; }
+    [ "$INITRD" ]     || { [ "$LOOKS_LIKE_DEBIAN" ] && [ -e "$default_debian_initrd" ] && INITRD=$default_debian_initrd; }
     [ "$QEMU_SMP" ]   || QEMU_SMP=1
 
     find_qemu_bin || return 1