diff --git a/third_party/nix/test-vm.nix b/third_party/nix/test-vm.nix
index 2a1056826..8f77441b7 100644
--- a/third_party/nix/test-vm.nix
+++ b/third_party/nix/test-vm.nix
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ let
 
     nix.package = depot.third_party.nix;
 
-    virtualisation.qemu.options = [ "-nographic" ];
+    virtualisation.qemu.options = [ "-nographic" "-curses" ];
 
     nix.nixPath = [
       "depot=${depot.depotPath}"