diff --git a/tests/playbooks/tests_802_1x.yml b/tests/playbooks/tests_802_1x.yml

index 9cce1ae..76d99e9 100644

--- a/tests/playbooks/tests_802_1x.yml

+++ b/tests/playbooks/tests_802_1x.yml

@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@

 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause

 ---

+- name: Save host state

+  hosts: all

+  tasks:

+    - import_tasks: tasks/save_state.yml

+

 - hosts: all

   vars:

     interface: 802-1x-test

@@ -122,3 +127,8 @@

               command: update-ca-trust

           tags:

             - "tests::cleanup"

+

+- name: Restore host state

+  hosts: all

+  tasks:

+    - import_tasks: tasks/restore_state.yml

diff --git a/tests/playbooks/tests_bond.yml b/tests/playbooks/tests_bond.yml

index 69f07f8..1e45788 100644

--- a/tests/playbooks/tests_bond.yml

+++ b/tests/playbooks/tests_bond.yml

@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@

 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause

 ---

+- name: Save host state

+  hosts: all

+  tasks:

+    - import_tasks: tasks/save_state.yml

+

 - hosts: all

   vars:

     controller_profile: bond0

@@ -95,3 +100,8 @@

             - import_tasks: tasks/remove_test_interfaces_with_dhcp.yml

           tags:

             - "tests::cleanup"

+

+- name: Restore host state

+  hosts: all

+  tasks:

+    - import_tasks: tasks/restore_state.yml

diff --git a/tests/playbooks/tests_bridge.yml b/tests/playbooks/tests_bridge.yml

index d79d6ad..c8cf3cd 100644

--- a/tests/playbooks/tests_bridge.yml

+++ b/tests/playbooks/tests_bridge.yml

@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@

 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause

 ---

+- name: Save host state

+  hosts: all

+  tasks:

+    - import_tasks: tasks/save_state.yml

+

 - name: Test configuring bridges

   hosts: all

   vars:

@@ -14,6 +19,8 @@

 - name: Add test bridge

   hosts: all

+  tags:

+    - 'tests::net::bridge'

   vars:

     network_connections:

       - name: "{{ interface }}"

@@ -36,11 +43,15 @@

     task: tasks/assert_profile_present.yml

 - import_playbook: down_profile.yml

+  tags:

+    - 'tests::net::bridge'

   vars:

     profile: "{{ interface }}"

 # FIXME: assert profile/device down

 - import_playbook: remove_profile.yml

+  tags:

+    - 'tests::net::bridge'

   vars:

     profile: "{{ interface }}"

@@ -51,5 +62,19 @@

 # FIXME: Devices might still be left when profile is absent

 # - import_playbook: run_tasks.yml

-#   vars:

+#  vars:

 #     task: tasks/assert_device_absent.yml

+

+- name: Remove test bridge

+  hosts: all

+  tags:

+    - 'tests::cleanup'

+    - 'tests::net::bridge::cleanup'

+  tasks:

+    - command: 'ip link delete "{{ interface }}"'

+      ignore_errors: yes

+

+- name: Restore host state

+  hosts: all

+  tasks:

+    - import_tasks: tasks/restore_state.yml

diff --git a/tests/playbooks/tests_checkpoint_cleanup.yml b/tests/playbooks/tests_checkpoint_cleanup.yml

index 18e3fd7..3b5a41a 100644

--- a/tests/playbooks/tests_checkpoint_cleanup.yml

+++ b/tests/playbooks/tests_checkpoint_cleanup.yml

@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@

 # mark a device as unmanaged for NM and then tries to activiate it using NM.

 # This failed without removing the checkpoint.

 ---

+- name: Save host state

+  hosts: all

+  tasks:

+    - import_tasks: tasks/save_state.yml

+

 - hosts: all

   vars:

     interface: cptstbr

@@ -80,3 +85,8 @@

           ignore_errors: true

           tags:

             - "tests::cleanup"

+

+- name: Restore host state

+  hosts: all

+  tasks:

+    - import_tasks: tasks/restore_state.yml

diff --git a/tests/playbooks/tests_ethernet.yml b/tests/playbooks/tests_ethernet.yml

index cd02579..adcffee 100644

--- a/tests/playbooks/tests_ethernet.yml

+++ b/tests/playbooks/tests_ethernet.yml

@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@

 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause

 ---

+- name: Save host state

+  hosts: all

+  tasks:

+    - import_tasks: tasks/save_state.yml

+

 - hosts: all

   tasks:

     - debug:

@@ -9,6 +14,8 @@

 - name: Test configuring ethernet devices

   hosts: all

+  tags:

+    - 'tests::net::veth'

   vars:

     type: veth

     interface: lsr27

@@ -26,6 +33,8 @@

 - name: Test static interface up

   hosts: all

+  tags:

+    - 'tests::net::reconf'

   vars:

     network_connections:

       - name: "{{ interface }}"

@@ -48,17 +57,29 @@

 # FIXME: assert profile present

 # FIXME: assert profile/device up + IP address

 - import_playbook: down_profile.yml

+  tags:

+    - 'tests::cleanup'

   vars:

     profile: "{{ interface }}"

 # FIXME: assert profile/device down

 - import_playbook: remove_profile.yml

+  tags:

+    - 'tests::cleanup'

   vars:

     profile: "{{ interface }}"

 # FIXME: assert profile away

 - name: Remove interfaces

   hosts: all

+  tags:

+    - 'tests::cleanup'

+    - 'tests::net::veth::cleanup'

   tasks:

     - include_tasks: tasks/manage_test_interface.yml

       vars:

         state: absent

     - include_tasks: tasks/assert_device_absent.yml

+

+- name: Restore host state

+  hosts: all

+  tasks:

+    - import_tasks: tasks/restore_state.yml

diff --git a/tests/playbooks/tests_ethtool_features.yml b/tests/playbooks/tests_ethtool_features.yml

index 43fddc3..d1a87fe 100644

--- a/tests/playbooks/tests_ethtool_features.yml

+++ b/tests/playbooks/tests_ethtool_features.yml

@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@

 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause

 ---

+- name: Save host state

+  hosts: all

+  tasks:

+    - import_tasks: tasks/save_state.yml

+

 - hosts: all

   vars:

     interface: testnic1

@@ -198,3 +203,8 @@

                 state: absent

           tags:

             - "tests::cleanup"

+

+- name: Restore host state

+  hosts: all

+  tasks:

+    - import_tasks: tasks/restore_state.yml

diff --git a/tests/playbooks/tests_provider.yml b/tests/playbooks/tests_provider.yml

index 1db2d08..e097b4b 100644

--- a/tests/playbooks/tests_provider.yml

+++ b/tests/playbooks/tests_provider.yml

@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@

 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause

 ---

+- name: Save host state

+  hosts: all

+  tasks:

+    - import_tasks: tasks/save_state.yml

+

 - hosts: all

   vars:

     interface: testnic1

@@ -33,3 +38,8 @@

               - tasks/cleanup_profile+device.yml

       tags:

         - tests::provider:initscripts_to_nm

+

+- name: Restore host state

+  hosts: all

+  tasks:

+    - import_tasks: tasks/restore_state.yml

diff --git a/tests/playbooks/tests_reapply.yml b/tests/playbooks/tests_reapply.yml

index 4b1cb09..6995607 100644

--- a/tests/playbooks/tests_reapply.yml

+++ b/tests/playbooks/tests_reapply.yml

@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@

 # of via Ansible. Until there is better test support for this, just check the

 # log output for the respective log message.

 ---

+- name: Save host state

+  hosts: all

+  tasks:

+    - import_tasks: tasks/save_state.yml

+

 - hosts: all

   vars:

     interface: rpltstbr

@@ -64,3 +69,8 @@

           ignore_errors: true

           tags:

             - "tests::cleanup"

+

+- name: Restore host state

+  hosts: all

+  tasks:

+    - import_tasks: tasks/restore_state.yml

diff --git a/tests/playbooks/tests_states.yml b/tests/playbooks/tests_states.yml

index eec27c0..a8d0ecd 100644

--- a/tests/playbooks/tests_states.yml

+++ b/tests/playbooks/tests_states.yml

@@ -135,3 +135,23 @@

               - tasks/cleanup_profile+device.yml

       tags:

         - tests::states:remove_down_twice

+

+  pre_tasks:

+    - name: Save host state

+      import_tasks: tasks/save_state.yml

+

+  post_tasks:

+    - name: Remove test profile

+      tags:

+        - 'tests::cleanup'

+        - 'tests::net::bridge::cleanup'

+      import_role:

+        name: linux-system-roles.network

+      vars:

+        network_connections:

+          - name: statebr

+            state: down

+            persistent_state: absent

+

+    - name: Restore host state

+      import_tasks: tasks/restore_state.yml

diff --git a/tests/playbooks/tests_vlan_mtu.yml b/tests/playbooks/tests_vlan_mtu.yml

index 029b599..378d5fe 100644

--- a/tests/playbooks/tests_vlan_mtu.yml

+++ b/tests/playbooks/tests_vlan_mtu.yml

@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@

     - include_tasks: tasks/manage_test_interface.yml

       vars:

         state: present

+      tags:

+        - 'tests::net::veth'

     - include_tasks: tasks/assert_device_present.yml

     - name: >-

         TEST: I can configure the MTU for a vlan interface without autoconnect.

@@ -38,6 +40,8 @@

             ip:

               dhcp4: false

               auto6: false

+      tags:

+        - 'tests::net::reconf'

     - include_tasks: tasks/assert_device_present.yml

       vars:

         interface: "{{ vlan_interface }}"

@@ -62,6 +66,20 @@

             persistent_state: absent

             state: down

       ignore_errors: true

+      tags:

+        - 'tests::cleanup'

+        - 'tests::net::veth::cleanup'

     - include_tasks: tasks/manage_test_interface.yml

       vars:

         state: absent

+      tags:

+        - 'tests::cleanup'

+        - 'tests::net::veth::cleanup'

+

+  pre_tasks:

+    - name: Save host state

+      import_tasks: tasks/save_state.yml

+

+  post_tasks:

+    - name: Restore host state

+      import_tasks: tasks/restore_state.yml

diff --git a/tests/playbooks/tests_wireless.yml b/tests/playbooks/tests_wireless.yml

index 822a15e..52661bd 100644

--- a/tests/playbooks/tests_wireless.yml

+++ b/tests/playbooks/tests_wireless.yml

@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@

 # SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause

 ---

+- name: Save host state

+  hosts: all

+  tasks:

+    - import_tasks: tasks/save_state.yml

+

 - hosts: all

   vars:

     interface: wlan0

@@ -86,3 +91,8 @@

             - include_tasks: tasks/cleanup_mock_wifi.yml

           tags:

             - "tests::cleanup"

+

+- name: Restore host state

+  hosts: all

+  tasks:

+    - import_tasks: tasks/restore_state.yml

diff --git a/tests/tasks/commonvars.yml b/tests/tasks/commonvars.yml

new file mode 100644

index 0000000..50452f7

--- /dev/null

+++ b/tests/tasks/commonvars.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@

+restore_services:

+  - NetworkManager

diff --git a/tests/tasks/get_services_state.yml b/tests/tasks/get_services_state.yml

new file mode 100644

index 0000000..4fe5d36

--- /dev/null

+++ b/tests/tasks/get_services_state.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@

+- name: Get initial state of services

+  tags: tests::cleanup

+  service_facts:

+  register: initial_state

diff --git a/tests/tasks/restore_services_state.yml b/tests/tasks/restore_services_state.yml

new file mode 100644

index 0000000..2035dfc

--- /dev/null

+++ b/tests/tasks/restore_services_state.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@

+- block:

+    - name: load common vars

+      include_vars:

+        file: commonvars.yml

+

+    - name: Get final state of services

+      service_facts:

+      register: final_state

+

+    - name: Restore state of services

+      service:

+        name: "{{ item }}"

+        state: "{{ 'started' if

+                   initial_state.ansible_facts.services[sname]['state']

+                   == 'running' else 'stopped' }}"

+      when:

+         - sname in final_state.ansible_facts.services

+         - sname in initial_state.ansible_facts.services

+      vars:

+        sname: "{{ item + '.service' }}"

+      with_items: "{{ restore_services }}"

+  tags: tests::cleanup

diff --git a/tests/tasks/restore_state.yml b/tests/tasks/restore_state.yml

new file mode 100644

index 0000000..f4e3d5f

--- /dev/null

+++ b/tests/tasks/restore_state.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@

+---

+- name: Remove /etc/sysconfig/network if there was no one

+  tags:

+    - 'tests::cleanup'

+  file:

+    path: /etc/sysconfig/network

+    state: absent

+  when:

+    - etc_sysconfig_network_stat is defined

+    - not etc_sysconfig_network_stat.stat.exists

+

+- name: Restore services

+  import_tasks: restore_services_state.yml

+

+- name: reload NetworkManager

+  tags:

+    - 'tests::cleanup'

+  command: nmcli connection reload

+  when:

+    - sname in final_state.ansible_facts.services

+    - sname in initial_state.ansible_facts.services

+    - final_state.ansible_facts.services[sname]['state'] == 'running'

+  vars:

+    sname: NetworkManager.service

diff --git a/tests/tasks/save_state.yml b/tests/tasks/save_state.yml

new file mode 100644

index 0000000..5690aed

--- /dev/null

+++ b/tests/tasks/save_state.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@

+---

+- name: Get services state

+  import_tasks: get_services_state.yml

+

+- name: Investigate /etc/sysconfig/network presence

+  tags:

+    - 'tests::cleanup'

+  stat:

+    path: /etc/sysconfig/network

+  register: etc_sysconfig_network_stat

+  ignore_errors: yes

diff --git a/tests/tests_802_1x_nm.yml b/tests/tests_802_1x_nm.yml

index 288cd5d..840958d 100644

--- a/tests/tests_802_1x_nm.yml

+++ b/tests/tests_802_1x_nm.yml

@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@

 # set network provider and gather facts

 - hosts: all

   name: Run playbook 'playbooks/tests_802_1x.yml' with nm as provider

+  tags:

+    - tests::expfail

   tasks:

     - name: Set network provider to 'nm'

       set_fact:

@@ -17,3 +19,5 @@

 - import_playbook: playbooks/tests_802_1x.yml

   when:

     - ansible_distribution_major_version != '6'

+  tags:

+    - tests::expfail

diff --git a/tests/tests_802_1x_updated_nm.yml b/tests/tests_802_1x_updated_nm.yml

index bd335e4..4ebcaf9 100644

--- a/tests/tests_802_1x_updated_nm.yml

+++ b/tests/tests_802_1x_updated_nm.yml

@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@

 # set network provider and gather facts

 - hosts: all

   name: Run playbook 'playbooks/tests_802_1x_updated.yml' with nm as provider

+  tags:

+    - tests::expfail

   tasks:

     - name: Set network provider to 'nm'

       set_fact:

@@ -17,3 +19,5 @@

 - import_playbook: playbooks/tests_802_1x_updated.yml

   when:

     - ansible_distribution_major_version != '6'

+  tags:

+    - tests::expfail

diff --git a/tests/tests_default.yml b/tests/tests_default.yml

index f6f7550..98e3c7e 100644

--- a/tests/tests_default.yml

+++ b/tests/tests_default.yml

@@ -10,3 +10,11 @@

         that:

           - "'warnings' not in __network_connections_result"

         msg: "There are warnings"

+

+  pre_tasks:

+    - name: Save host state

+      import_tasks: tasks/save_state.yml

+

+  post_tasks:

+    - name: Restore host state

+      import_tasks: tasks/restore_state.yml

diff --git a/tests/tests_helpers_and_asserts.yml b/tests/tests_helpers_and_asserts.yml

index 5514182..d9bfa11 100644

--- a/tests/tests_helpers_and_asserts.yml

+++ b/tests/tests_helpers_and_asserts.yml

@@ -15,6 +15,14 @@

         type: dummy

         interface: dummy1298

+  pre_tasks:

+    - name: Save host state

+      import_tasks: tasks/save_state.yml

+

+  post_tasks:

+    - name: Restore host state

+      import_tasks: tasks/restore_state.yml

+

 # FIXME: when: does not seem to work with include_tasks, therefore this cannot

 # be safely tested for now

 #    - name: test tap interfaces