diff --git a/test/200_dns_test.sh b/test/200_dns_test.sh
index 635308c9..c39305ee 100755
--- a/test/200_dns_test.sh
+++ b/test/200_dns_test.sh
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ start_suite "Resolve names on a single host"
 
 weave_on $HOST1 launch-dns 10.2.254.1/24
 
-start_container $HOST1 $C2/24 --name=c2 -h $NAME
-weave_on $HOST1 run --with-dns $C1/24 -t --name=c1 aanand/docker-dnsutils /bin/sh
+start_container          $HOST1 $C2/24 --name=c2 -h $NAME
+start_container_with_dns $HOST1 $C1/24 --name=c1
 
 assert_dns_record $HOST1 c1 $NAME $C2
 
diff --git a/test/210_dns_multicast_test.sh b/test/210_dns_multicast_test.sh
index 6e1886c9..0e71d0e3 100755
--- a/test/210_dns_multicast_test.sh
+++ b/test/210_dns_multicast_test.sh
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ weave_on $HOST2 launch $HOST1
 weave_on $HOST1 launch-dns 10.2.254.1/24 -debug
 weave_on $HOST2 launch-dns 10.2.254.2/24 -debug
 
-start_container $HOST2 $C2/24 --name=c2 -h $NAME
-weave_on $HOST1 run --with-dns $C1/24 -t --name=c1 aanand/docker-dnsutils /bin/sh
+start_container          $HOST2 $C2/24 --name=c2 -h $NAME
+start_container_with_dns $HOST1 $C1/24 --name=c1
 
 assert_dns_record $HOST1 c1 $NAME $C2
 
diff --git a/test/220_dns_custom_test.sh b/test/220_dns_custom_test.sh
index 95546f2b..44f40231 100755
--- a/test/220_dns_custom_test.sh
+++ b/test/220_dns_custom_test.sh
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ start_suite "Resolve names in custom domain"
 
 weave_on $HOST1 launch-dns 10.2.254.1/24 --domain $DOMAIN.
 
-start_container $HOST1 $C2/24 --name=c2 -h $NAME
-weave_on $HOST1 run --with-dns $C1/24 -t --name=c1 aanand/docker-dnsutils /bin/sh
+start_container          $HOST1 $C2/24 --name=c2 -h $NAME
+start_container_with_dns $HOST1 $C1/24 --name=c1
 
 assert_dns_record $HOST1 c1 $NAME $C2
 
diff --git a/test/230_dns_unqualified_test.sh b/test/230_dns_unqualified_test.sh
index b76d2252..574fef06 100755
--- a/test/230_dns_unqualified_test.sh
+++ b/test/230_dns_unqualified_test.sh
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ start_suite "Resolve unqualified names"
 
 weave_on $HOST1 launch-dns 10.2.254.1/24
 
-start_container $HOST1 $C1/24 --name=c1 -h $NAME
-weave_on $HOST1 run --with-dns $C2/24 -t --name=c2 -h seetwo.$DOMAIN aanand/docker-dnsutils /bin/sh
-weave_on $HOST1 run --with-dns $C3/24 -t --name=c3 --dns-search=$DOMAIN aanand/docker-dnsutils /bin/sh
+start_container          $HOST1 $C1/24 --name=c1 -h $NAME
+start_container_with_dns $HOST1 $C2/24 --name=c2 -h seetwo.$DOMAIN
+start_container_with_dns $HOST1 $C3/24 --name=c3 --dns-search=$DOMAIN
 
 assert "exec_on $HOST1 c2 getent hosts seeone | tr -s ' '" "$C1 $NAME"
 assert "exec_on $HOST1 c3 getent hosts seeone | tr -s ' '" "$C1 $NAME"
diff --git a/test/240_dns_add_name_test.sh b/test/240_dns_add_name_test.sh
index 91548f22..0377cb11 100755
--- a/test/240_dns_add_name_test.sh
+++ b/test/240_dns_add_name_test.sh
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ start_suite "Add and remove names on a single host"
 
 weave_on $HOST1 launch-dns 10.2.254.1/24
 
-start_container $HOST1 $C2/24 --name=c2
-weave_on $HOST1 run --with-dns $C1/24 -t --name=c1 aanand/docker-dnsutils /bin/sh
+start_container          $HOST1 $C2/24 --name=c2
+start_container_with_dns $HOST1 $C1/24 --name=c1
 
 weave_on $HOST1 dns-add $C2 c2 -h $NAME2
 
diff --git a/test/250_dns_ipam_test.sh b/test/250_dns_ipam_test.sh
index 43d8f385..b8988a54 100755
--- a/test/250_dns_ipam_test.sh
+++ b/test/250_dns_ipam_test.sh
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ weave_on $HOST2 launch -iprange $UNIVERSE $HOST1
 weave_on $HOST1 launch-dns 10.2.254.1/24
 weave_on $HOST2 launch-dns 10.2.254.2/24
 
-start_container $HOST2 --name=c2 -h $NAME
-weave_on $HOST1 run --with-dns -t --name=c1 aanand/docker-dnsutils /bin/sh
+start_container          $HOST2 --name=c2 -h $NAME
+start_container_with_dns $HOST1 --name=c1
 C2=$(container_ip $HOST2 c2)
 
 assert_dns_record $HOST1 c1 $NAME $C2
diff --git a/test/300_fallback_dns_test.sh b/test/300_fallback_dns_test.sh
index f654b01b..b163aa77 100755
--- a/test/300_fallback_dns_test.sh
+++ b/test/300_fallback_dns_test.sh
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ start_suite "Resolve a non-weave address"
 
 weave_on $HOST1 launch-dns 10.2.254.1/24 -debug
 
-weave_on $HOST1 run --with-dns 10.2.1.5/24 -t --name=c1 aanand/docker-dnsutils /bin/sh
+start_container_with_dns $HOST1 10.2.1.5/24 --name=c1
 
 assert_raises "exec_on $HOST1 c1 host -t mx weave.works | grep google"
 assert_raises "exec_on $HOST1 c1 getent hosts 8.8.8.8   | grep google"
diff --git a/test/config.sh b/test/config.sh
index 89fa8605..1646c6d5 100644
--- a/test/config.sh
+++ b/test/config.sh
@@ -94,6 +94,12 @@ start_container() {
     weave_on $host run $@ -t gliderlabs/alpine /bin/sh
 }
 
+start_container_with_dns() {
+    host=$1
+    shift 1
+    weave_on $host run --with-dns $@ -t aanand/docker-dnsutils /bin/sh
+}
+
 container_ip() {
     weave_on $1 ps $2 | grep -o -E '[0-9]{1,3}\.[0-9]{1,3}\.[0-9]{1,3}\.[0-9]{1,3}'
 }