diff --git a/tests/basic.nix b/tests/basic.nix
index 4331d87..63b80b5 100644
--- a/tests/basic.nix
+++ b/tests/basic.nix
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ pkgs.testers.runNixOSTest {
 
   defaults.imports = [ tools ];
 
+  # `driverInteractive` uses the full QEMU, which would open a window per VM;
+  # `nix run .#lab` wants the consoles in the terminal instead.
+  interactive.defaults.virtualisation.qemu.options = [ "-display" "none" ];
+
   nodes = {
     # Plays the ISP: hands out one WAN lease, answers DNS, and serves a page
     # that echoes the client address it sees (to prove NAT happens).