diff --git a/tests/roles/bootstrap-host/tasks/prepare_hostname.yml b/tests/roles/bootstrap-host/tasks/prepare_hostname.yml
index 262fb9129a..3868b6ba94 100644
--- a/tests/roles/bootstrap-host/tasks/prepare_hostname.yml
+++ b/tests/roles/bootstrap-host/tasks/prepare_hostname.yml
@@ -17,8 +17,13 @@
   copy:
     content: |
       127.0.0.1 localhost
+
+      # the ip of the aio host on the mgmt network
       172.29.236.100 aio1.openstack.local aio1
 
+      # the ip of the external interface of the aio host
+      {{ bootstrap_host_public_address | default(ansible_facts['default_ipv4']['address']) }} external.openstack.local external
+
       # The following lines are desirable for IPv6 capable hosts
       ::1 ip6-localhost ip6-loopback
       fe00::0 ip6-localnet