diff --git a/lab/test-resource-guard.nix b/lab/test-resource-guard.nix
index 2c0e024..d50d0a2 100644
--- a/lab/test-resource-guard.nix
+++ b/lab/test-resource-guard.nix
@@ -237,6 +237,11 @@ in
     if interface_exists("ls-guard"):
         client.succeed("ip link del ls-guard 2>/dev/null || true")
 
+    # Clean up systemd service from previous test
+    client.execute("systemctl stop lightscale-agent.service 2>/dev/null || true")
+    client.execute("systemctl reset-failed lightscale-agent.service 2>/dev/null || true")
+    time.sleep(1)
+
     # =======================================================================
     # TEST 4: Cleanup Before Start (--cleanup-before-start)
     # Purpose: Verify that leftover interfaces from previous crashes