diff --git a/.github/workflows/test_mkosi_boot.py b/.github/workflows/test_mkosi_boot.py
index 3418fd3a51..3ea769a69f 100755
--- a/.github/workflows/test_mkosi_boot.py
+++ b/.github/workflows/test_mkosi_boot.py
@@ -2,13 +2,15 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-or-later
 
 import pexpect
+import re
 import sys
 
 
 def run() -> None:
     p = pexpect.spawnu(" ".join(sys.argv[1:]), logfile=sys.stdout, timeout=300)
 
-    p.expect("#")
+    # distro-independent root prompt
+    p.expect(re.compile("~[^#]{0,3}#"))
     p.sendline("systemctl poweroff")
 
     p.expect(pexpect.EOF)