diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/ftracetest b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/ftracetest
index 0a56bf209f6c..8ad2c385407e 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/ftracetest
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/ftrace/ftracetest
@@ -503,6 +503,7 @@ for t in $TEST_CASES; do
 done
 
 # Test on instance loop
+(cd $TRACING_DIR; initialize_system)
 INSTANCE=" (instance) "
 for t in $TEST_CASES; do
   test_on_instance $t || continue