diff --git a/libs/backends/dummy/dummy_audiobackend.cc b/libs/backends/dummy/dummy_audiobackend.cc
index 97622443f2..bc4b19efb3 100644
--- a/libs/backends/dummy/dummy_audiobackend.cc
+++ b/libs/backends/dummy/dummy_audiobackend.cc
@@ -1354,6 +1354,10 @@ deinstantiate ()
 static bool
 already_configured ()
 {
+	// special-case: unit-tests require backend to be pre-configured.
+	if (s_instance_name == "Unit-Test") {
+		return true;
+	}
 	return false;
 }