diff --git a/test/run b/test/run
index 8ea73e2db064..72bde12bf20b 100755
--- a/test/run
+++ b/test/run
@@ -73,6 +73,11 @@ if [ "${TEST_OS#fedora}" != "$TEST_OS" ] || [ "$TEST_OS" = "centos-10" ]; then
     export TEST_AUDIT_NO_SELINUX=1
 fi
 
+# HACK: dnf → rpm -i and pre-install our dependencies
+if [ "$TEST_OS" = "centos-9-bootc" ]; then
+    PREPARE_OPTS="$PREPARE_OPTS --network"
+fi
+
 if [ -n "$TEST_SCENARIO" ] && [ -z "$RUN_OPTS" ]; then
     echo "Unknown test scenario: $TEST_SCENARIO"
     exit 1