diff --git a/test/gtest/ucs/test_memtype_cache.cc b/test/gtest/ucs/test_memtype_cache.cc
index 0c9e79c398f..75d750a928f 100644
--- a/test/gtest/ucs/test_memtype_cache.cc
+++ b/test/gtest/ucs/test_memtype_cache.cc
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ class test_memtype_cache : public ucs::test_with_param<ucs_memory_type_t> {
 
     virtual void init() {
         ucs::test_with_param<ucs_memory_type_t>::init();
+        // Trigger on-demand create of the global memtype cache instance
+        test_lookup_notfound(NULL, ucs_get_page_size());
     }
 
     virtual void cleanup() {