diff --git a/tests/test_utils_sendmail.py b/tests/test_utils_sendmail.py
index fbb0f3a0b..5dd48fadb 100644
--- a/tests/test_utils_sendmail.py
+++ b/tests/test_utils_sendmail.py
@@ -55,6 +55,13 @@ def test_sendmail_mime_format_to_file():
 
 import subprocess
 
+def start_postfix():
+    try:
+        subprocess.run(["sudo", "service", "postfix", "start"], check=True)
+        print("✅ Postfix started")
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
+        print("❌ Failed to start postfix:", e)
+
 def setup_postfix():
     subprocess.run("echo 'postfix postfix/mailname string localhost.localdomain' | sudo debconf-set-selections", shell=True)
     subprocess.run("echo 'postfix postfix/main_mailer_type string Internet Site' | sudo debconf-set-selections", shell=True)
@@ -62,7 +69,7 @@ def setup_postfix():
 
 
 def test_sendmail_real_local_verbose():
-
+    start_postfix()
     setup_postfix()
     
     to_addr = "yasmine.tligui@psi.ch"