diff --git a/tests/qtest/migration-helpers.c b/tests/qtest/migration-helpers.c
index 0ac49ceb54..2ca4425d71 100644
--- a/tests/qtest/migration-helpers.c
+++ b/tests/qtest/migration-helpers.c
@@ -258,6 +258,7 @@ void migrate_incoming_qmp(QTestState *to, const char *uri, const char *fmt, ...)
     g_assert(!qdict_haskey(args, "uri"));
     qdict_put_str(args, "uri", uri);
 
+    /* This function relies on the event to work, make sure it's enabled */
     migrate_set_capability(to, "events", true);
 
     rsp = qtest_qmp(to, "{ 'execute': 'migrate-incoming', 'arguments': %p}",
diff --git a/tests/qtest/migration-test.c b/tests/qtest/migration-test.c
index b7dea1aabb..32e31fff86 100644
--- a/tests/qtest/migration-test.c
+++ b/tests/qtest/migration-test.c
@@ -852,6 +852,13 @@ static int test_migrate_start(QTestState **from, QTestState **to,
         unlink(shmem_path);
     }
 
+    /*
+     * Always enable migration events.  Libvirt always uses it, let's try
+     * to mimic as closer as that.
+     */
+    migrate_set_capability(*from, "events", true);
+    migrate_set_capability(*to, "events", true);
+
     return 0;
 }