diff --git a/test/functional/wallet_groups.py b/test/functional/wallet_groups.py
index b2b85a566b..3eb6a8fa3c 100755
--- a/test/functional/wallet_groups.py
+++ b/test/functional/wallet_groups.py
@@ -33,6 +33,11 @@ class WalletGroupTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
 
     def run_test(self):
         self.log.info("Setting up")
+        # To take full use of immediate tx relay, all nodes need to be reachable
+        # via inbound peers, i.e. connect first to last to close the circle
+        # (the default test network topology looks like this:
+        #  node0 <-- node1 <-- node2 <-- node3 <-- node4 <-- node5)
+        self.connect_nodes(0, self.num_nodes - 1)
         # Mine some coins
         self.generate(self.nodes[0], COINBASE_MATURITY + 1)