diff --git a/tests/trace/app.config.test b/tests/trace/app.config.test
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..19114841f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/trace/app.config.test
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# this file enables modules defined in Kconfig. Do not use this file for
+# application configuration. This is only needed during migration.
+CONFIG_MODULE_TRACE=y