diff --git a/.papr.yml b/.papr.yml
index cc1be395..0b130ca6 100644
--- a/.papr.yml
+++ b/.papr.yml
@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@ extra-repos:
     gpgcheck: 0
 
 tests:
+  # we're still on devmapper here; we need to expand rootfs for tests
+  - for vm in vmcheck{1..3}; do ssh $vm lvresize -r -L +5G atomicos/root; done
   - yum install -y epel-release
   - ci/build-check.sh
   - make vmcheck