diff --git a/test/networkd-test.py b/test/networkd-test.py
index 1fa5d566db..5f2477fccb 100755
--- a/test/networkd-test.py
+++ b/test/networkd-test.py
@@ -47,6 +47,12 @@ def setUpModule():
     global tmpmounts
 
     """Initialize the environment, and perform sanity checks on it."""
+
+    if shutil.which('networkctl') is None:
+        raise unittest.SkipTest('networkd not installed')
+    if shutil.which('resolvectl') is None:
+        raise unittest.SkipTest('resolved not installed')
+
     if NETWORKD_WAIT_ONLINE is None:
         raise OSError(errno.ENOENT, 'systemd-networkd-wait-online not found')
 
diff --git a/test/test-network/systemd-networkd-tests.py b/test/test-network/systemd-networkd-tests.py
index a91d45e995..fe1c61b8fb 100755
--- a/test/test-network/systemd-networkd-tests.py
+++ b/test/test-network/systemd-networkd-tests.py
@@ -8958,6 +8958,10 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     else:
         source_dir = None
 
+    if networkd_bin is None or resolved_bin is None or timesyncd_bin is None:
+        print("networkd tests require networkd/resolved/timesyncd to be enabled")
+        sys.exit(77)
+
     use_valgrind = ns.use_valgrind
     enable_debug = ns.enable_debug
     asan_options = ns.asan_options