diff --git a/meta/conf/bitbake.conf b/meta/conf/bitbake.conf
index 3ef7f7ae21..e2383d2709 100644
--- a/meta/conf/bitbake.conf
+++ b/meta/conf/bitbake.conf
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ 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 ssh sudo"