diff --git a/src/runmode-unittests.c b/src/runmode-unittests.c
index daceaf12ea..7a99aa93fd 100644
--- a/src/runmode-unittests.c
+++ b/src/runmode-unittests.c
@@ -122,6 +122,11 @@
 #include "util-streaming-buffer.h"
 #include "util-lua.h"
 
+#ifdef HAVE_NSS
+#include <prinit.h>
+#include <nss.h>
+#endif
+
 #endif /* UNITTESTS */
 
 void TmqhSetup (void);
@@ -283,6 +288,13 @@ void RunUnittests(int list_unittests, const char *regex_arg)
         UtRunSelftest(regex_arg); /* inits and cleans up again */
     }
 
+#ifdef HAVE_NSS
+    /* init NSS for hashing */
+    PR_Init(PR_USER_THREAD, PR_PRIORITY_NORMAL, 0);
+    NSS_NoDB_Init(NULL);
+#endif
+
+
     AppLayerHtpEnableRequestBodyCallback();
     AppLayerHtpNeedFileInspection();