diff --git a/gio/tests/memory-monitor-dbus.py.in b/gio/tests/memory-monitor-dbus.py.in
index acbc576ca..09009ae32 100755
--- a/gio/tests/memory-monitor-dbus.py.in
+++ b/gio/tests/memory-monitor-dbus.py.in
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ try:
         @classmethod
         def setUpClass(klass):
             klass.start_system_bus()
+            klass.start_session_bus()
             klass.dbus_con = klass.get_dbus(True)
 
         def setUp(self):
diff --git a/gio/tests/memory-monitor-portal.py.in b/gio/tests/memory-monitor-portal.py.in
index d06fad297..73bf83c2c 100755
--- a/gio/tests/memory-monitor-portal.py.in
+++ b/gio/tests/memory-monitor-portal.py.in
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ try:
         @classmethod
         def setUpClass(klass):
             klass.start_system_bus()
+            klass.start_session_bus()
             klass.dbus_con = klass.get_dbus(True)
             # Start session bus so that xdg-desktop-portal can run on it
             klass.start_session_bus()