diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/fixtures_flakes.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/fixtures_flakes.py
index ea43d070d..49760f3b8 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/fixtures_flakes.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/fixtures_flakes.py
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ def generate_flake(
     },
     # define the machines directly including their config
     machine_configs: dict[str, dict] = {},
+    inventory: dict[str, dict] = {},
 ) -> FlakeForTest:
     """
     Creates a clan flake with the given name.
@@ -80,6 +81,12 @@ def generate_flake(
     shutil.copytree(flake_template, flake)
     sp.run(["chmod", "+w", "-R", str(flake)], check=True)
 
+    # initialize inventory
+    if inventory:
+        # check if inventory valid
+        inventory_path = flake / "inventory.json"
+        inventory_path.write_text(json.dumps(inventory, indent=2))
+
     # substitute `substitutions` in all files of the template
     for file in flake.rglob("*"):
         if file.is_file():