diff --git a/tests/configs/t1000-simple-atomic.py b/tests/configs/t1000-simple-atomic.py
index 217135bf05..7e94b5c984 100644
--- a/tests/configs/t1000-simple-atomic.py
+++ b/tests/configs/t1000-simple-atomic.py
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ import FSConfig
 cpu = AtomicSimpleCPU(cpu_id=0)
 system = FSConfig.makeSparcSystem('atomic')
 system.cpu = cpu
+# create the interrupt controller
+cpu.createInterruptController()
 cpu.connectAllPorts(system.membus)
 
 root = Root(full_system=True, system=system)