diff --git a/meta/conf/bitbake.conf b/meta/conf/bitbake.conf
index 6f53b23a67..0eefb86d13 100644
--- a/meta/conf/bitbake.conf
+++ b/meta/conf/bitbake.conf
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ HOSTTOOLS += " \
 "
 
 # Tools needed to run testimage runtime image testing
-HOSTTOOLS += "ip ping ps scp ssh stty"
+HOSTTOOLS += "${@['', 'ip ping ps scp ssh stty'][bb.data.inherits_class('testimage', d)]}"
 
 # Link to these if present
 HOSTTOOLS_NONFATAL += "aws ccache gcc-ar gpg ld.bfd ld.gold nc sftp socat sudo"