diff --git a/test/dm/nvmxip.c b/test/dm/nvmxip.c
index 89bf481..f0ad47d 100644
--- a/test/dm/nvmxip.c
+++ b/test/dm/nvmxip.c
@@ -103,6 +103,8 @@
 	void *buffer = NULL;
 	unsigned long flashsz;
 
+	sandbox_set_enable_memio(true);
+
 	/* set the flash content first for both devices */
 	dm_nvmxip_flash_sanity(uts, 0, NULL);
 	dm_nvmxip_flash_sanity(uts, 1, NULL);