diff --git a/tests/main/system-usernames-snap-scoped/snap/meta/snap.yaml.in b/tests/main/system-usernames-snap-scoped/snap/meta/snap.yaml.in
index d40315d6245..eb83a56ce73 100644
--- a/tests/main/system-usernames-snap-scoped/snap/meta/snap.yaml.in
+++ b/tests/main/system-usernames-snap-scoped/snap/meta/snap.yaml.in
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 name: SNAPNAME
 summary: Snap requesting snap-scoped system users
 version: '1.0'
+base: core22
 
 apps:
   test-app:
diff --git a/tests/main/system-usernames-snap-scoped/task.yaml b/tests/main/system-usernames-snap-scoped/task.yaml
index d395ccd2673..14d0107bd3f 100644
--- a/tests/main/system-usernames-snap-scoped/task.yaml
+++ b/tests/main/system-usernames-snap-scoped/task.yaml
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ prepare: |
 
     snap debug can-manage-refreshes | MATCH false
 
+    # install dependencies before switching to fake store
+    # TODO extract base from snap metadata when swithing to gojq
+    snap install core22
+
     snap ack "$TESTSLIB/assertions/testrootorg-store.account-key"
 
     "$TESTSTOOLS"/store-state setup-fake-store "$STORE_DIR"