diff --git a/nixos/tests/virtualbox.nix b/nixos/tests/virtualbox.nix
index ad8819562a2f..1fd2f23b3691 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/virtualbox.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/virtualbox.nix
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ in mapAttrs (mkVBoxTest false vboxVMs) {
 
   headless = ''
     create_vm_headless()
-    machine.succeed(ru("VBoxHeadless --startvm headless & disown %1"))
+    machine.succeed(ru("VBoxHeadless --startvm headless >&2 & disown %1"))
     wait_for_startup_headless()
     wait_for_vm_boot_headless()
     shutdown_vm_headless()