diff --git a/tests/drivers/sdhc/src/main.c b/tests/drivers/sdhc/src/main.c
index 1ee9b7a1ba9..205b367a741 100644
--- a/tests/drivers/sdhc/src/main.c
+++ b/tests/drivers/sdhc/src/main.c
@@ -17,6 +17,27 @@ static struct sdhc_io io;
 
 K_SEM_DEFINE(card_sem, 0, 1);
 
+/* Prepare IO settings for card */
+static void *sdhc_power_on(void)
+{
+	int ret;
+
+	ret = sdhc_get_host_props(sdhc_dev, &props);
+	zassert_equal(ret, 0, "SDHC host props api call failed");
+
+	io.clock = props.f_min;
+	io.bus_mode = SDHC_BUSMODE_PUSHPULL;
+	io.power_mode = SDHC_POWER_ON;
+	io.bus_width = SDHC_BUS_WIDTH1BIT;
+	io.timing = SDHC_TIMING_LEGACY;
+	io.signal_voltage = SD_VOL_3_3_V;
+
+	ret = sdhc_set_io(sdhc_dev, &io);
+	zassert_equal(ret, 0, "Setting io configuration failed");
+	k_msleep(props.power_delay);
+	return NULL;
+}
+
 /* Resets SD host controller, verifies API */
 ZTEST(sdhc, test_reset)
 {
@@ -33,6 +54,8 @@ ZTEST(sdhc, test_host_props)
 {
 	int ret;
 
+	zassert_true(device_is_ready(sdhc_dev), "SDHC device is not ready");
+
 	/* Set all host properties to 0xFF */
 	props.f_max = 0xFF;
 	props.f_min = 0xFF;
@@ -56,6 +79,8 @@ ZTEST(sdhc, test_set_io)
 {
 	int ret;
 
+	zassert_true(device_is_ready(sdhc_dev), "SDHC device is not ready");
+
 	io.clock = props.f_min;
 	io.bus_mode = SDHC_BUSMODE_PUSHPULL;
 	io.power_mode = SDHC_POWER_ON;
@@ -88,16 +113,12 @@ void sdhc_interrupt_cb(const struct device *dev, int source, const void *data)
 
 /*
  * Verify that the driver can detect a present SD card
- * This test must run first, to ensure the card is present.
  */
-ZTEST(sdhc, test_0_card_presence)
+ZTEST(sdhc, test_card_presence)
 {
 	int ret;
 
-	io.clock = props.f_min;
-	ret = sdhc_set_io(sdhc_dev, &io);
-	zassert_equal(ret, 0, "Setting io configuration failed");
-	k_msleep(props.power_delay);
+	zassert_true(device_is_ready(sdhc_dev), "SDHC device is not ready");
 
 	ret = sdhc_card_present(sdhc_dev);
 	if (ret == 0) {
@@ -126,6 +147,8 @@ ZTEST(sdhc, test_card_if_cond)
 	int ret, resp;
 	int check_pattern = SD_IF_COND_CHECK;
 
+	zassert_true(device_is_ready(sdhc_dev), "SDHC device is not ready");
+
 	/* Toggle power to card, to clear state */
 	io.power_mode = SDHC_POWER_OFF;
 	ret = sdhc_set_io(sdhc_dev, &io);
@@ -172,4 +195,4 @@ ZTEST(sdhc, test_card_if_cond)
 	}
 }
 
-ZTEST_SUITE(sdhc, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+ZTEST_SUITE(sdhc, NULL, sdhc_power_on, NULL, NULL, NULL);