diff --git a/spread.yaml b/spread.yaml
index b278f6400..eeee192bc 100644
--- a/spread.yaml
+++ b/spread.yaml
@@ -41,12 +41,14 @@ backends:
                 # to the Ubuntu cloud images that have the rootfs as the first
                 # partition.
                 exec image-garden allocate "$SPREAD_SYSTEM"."$ARCH" \
+                  -usb -usbdevice keyboard -usbdevice mouse \
                   -kernel bzImage \
                   -append 'root=/dev/sda1 ro console=tty1 console=ttyS0'
             fi
             # Ask image garden to allocate the system and relay the result back
             # to spread as either success of failure.
-            exec image-garden allocate "$SPREAD_SYSTEM"."$ARCH"
+            exec image-garden allocate "$SPREAD_SYSTEM"."$ARCH" \
+                -usb -usbdevice keyboard -usbdevice mouse \
         discard: |
             # See above for an explanation.
             if [ -n "${SPREAD_HOST_PATH-}" ]; then
diff --git a/tests/profiles/lsusb/task.yaml b/tests/profiles/lsusb/task.yaml
index 3f7ee6152..ff393c37e 100644
--- a/tests/profiles/lsusb/task.yaml
+++ b/tests/profiles/lsusb/task.yaml
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ summary: smoke test for the lsusb profile
 execute: |
     # lsusb works (this is a very basic test).
     # try printing the physical USB device hierarchy as a tree
-    lsusb -t
+    lsusb -t | MATCH 'Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid'
     # be verbose
-    lsusb -v
+    lsusb -v | MATCH 'QEMU USB Keyboard'
     # The profile is attached based on the program path.
     "$SPREAD_PATH"/tests/bin/actual-profile-of lsusb | MATCH 'lsusb \(enforce\)'