diff --git a/pkg/cmd/roachtest/tests/asyncpg.go b/pkg/cmd/roachtest/tests/asyncpg.go
index def30e267360..21c176398ac6 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/roachtest/tests/asyncpg.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/roachtest/tests/asyncpg.go
@@ -79,6 +79,12 @@ func registerAsyncpg(r registry.Registry) {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 
+		if err := repeatRunE(
+			ctx, t, c, node, "update apt-get", `sudo apt-get update`,
+		); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+
 		if err := repeatRunE(
 			ctx,
 			t,