diff --git a/tests/hwsim/test_he.py b/tests/hwsim/test_he.py
index ce0af59ba..260804613 100644
--- a/tests/hwsim/test_he.py
+++ b/tests/hwsim/test_he.py
@@ -14,4 +14,6 @@ def test_he_open(dev, apdev):
               "he_mu_edca_ac_be_ecwmin": "7",
               "he_mu_edca_ac_be_ecwmax": "15"}
     hapd = hostapd.add_ap(apdev[0], params)
+    if hapd.get_status_field("ieee80211ax") != "1":
+        raise Exception("STATUS did not indicate ieee80211ac=1")
     dev[0].connect("he", key_mgmt="NONE", scan_freq="2412")