diff --git a/test/units/testsuite-55.sh b/test/units/testsuite-55.sh
index b02dd299609..3e549dd7dbe 100755
--- a/test/units/testsuite-55.sh
+++ b/test/units/testsuite-55.sh
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ if systemctl status testsuite-55-testbloat.service; then exit 42; fi
 if ! systemctl status testsuite-55-testchill.service; then exit 24; fi
 
 # Make sure we also work correctly on user units.
+loginctl enable-linger testuser
 
 systemctl start --machine "testuser@.host" --user testsuite-55-testchill.service
 systemctl start --machine "testuser@.host" --user testsuite-55-testbloat.service
@@ -144,6 +145,8 @@ done
 if systemctl --machine "testuser@.host" --user status testsuite-55-testbloat.service; then exit 42; fi
 if ! systemctl --machine "testuser@.host" --user status testsuite-55-testchill.service; then exit 24; fi
 
+loginctl disable-linger testuser
+
 # only run this portion of the test if we can set xattrs
 if cgroupfs_supports_user_xattrs; then
     sleep 120 # wait for systemd-oomd kill cool down and elevated memory pressure to come down