diff --git a/test/ares-test.cc b/test/ares-test.cc
index 5b03c630..a3043813 100644
--- a/test/ares-test.cc
+++ b/test/ares-test.cc
@@ -757,6 +757,11 @@ MockChannelOptsTest::MockChannelOptsTest(int count,
     optmask |= ARES_OPT_FLAGS;
   }
 
+  if (!(optmask & ARES_OPT_NDOTS)) {
+    opts.ndots = 1;
+    optmask |= ARES_OPT_NDOTS;
+  }
+
   EXPECT_EQ(ARES_SUCCESS, ares_init_options(&channel_, &opts, optmask));
   EXPECT_NE(nullptr, channel_);