diff --git a/tests/approval.sh b/tests/approval.sh
index 5848823..7e9986a 100755
--- a/tests/approval.sh
+++ b/tests/approval.sh
@@ -21,6 +21,22 @@ cleanup() {
         "/var/lib/hyperhive/applied/${AGENT}"
 }
 
+echo "=== precheck: hm1nd container is up ==="
+if ! sudo machinectl status hm1nd >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "  hm1nd is not running. Starting via systemd..."
+    sudo systemctl start "container@hm1nd.service" || {
+        echo "FAIL: could not start container@hm1nd.service."
+        echo "  Did you 'nixos-rebuild switch' after declaring containers.hm1nd in your host config?"
+        exit 1
+    }
+    # wait briefly for it to come up
+    for i in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10; do
+        sudo machinectl status hm1nd >/dev/null 2>&1 && break
+        sleep 0.5
+    done
+fi
+echo "  hm1nd is up ✓"
+
 cleanup
 
 echo "=== spawn ${AGENT} ==="