diff --git a/varnish/.kitchen.yml b/varnish/.kitchen.yml
index b0169808..a5b0c328 100644
--- a/varnish/.kitchen.yml
+++ b/varnish/.kitchen.yml
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@ driver:
   name: docker
   privileged: true
   use_sudo: false
+  # important if you need to interact with systemd
+  # otherwise a barebone ssh server is the main process
+  run_command: /sbin/init
 
 provisioner:
   name: ansible_playbook