diff --git a/tests/scripts/expect/_common.exp b/tests/scripts/expect/_common.exp
index 820a0c674..4214299b7 100644
--- a/tests/scripts/expect/_common.exp
+++ b/tests/scripts/expect/_common.exp
@@ -213,11 +213,23 @@ proc get_rloc16 {} {
 }
 
 proc setup_default_network {} {
-    send "channel 11\n"
+    send "dataset init new\n"
     expect_line "Done"
-    send "panid 0xface\n"
+    send "dataset channel 11\n"
     expect_line "Done"
-    send "networkkey 00112233445566778899aabbccddeeff\n"
+    send "dataset extpanid 000db80000000000\n"
+    expect_line "Done"
+    send "dataset meshlocalprefix fd00:db8::\n"
+    expect_line "Done"
+    send "dataset networkkey 00112233445566778899aabbccddeeff\n"
+    expect_line "Done"
+    send "dataset networkname OpenThread-face\n"
+    expect_line "Done"
+    send "dataset panid 0xface\n"
+    expect_line "Done"
+    send "dataset pskc c23a76e98f1a6483639b1ac1271e2e27\n"
+    expect_line "Done"
+    send "dataset commit active\n"
     expect_line "Done"
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/scripts/expect/cli-multicast-loop.exp b/tests/scripts/expect/cli-multicast-loop.exp
index 14f07bd60..8883d639d 100755
--- a/tests/scripts/expect/cli-multicast-loop.exp
+++ b/tests/scripts/expect/cli-multicast-loop.exp
@@ -41,9 +41,6 @@ setup_default_network
 
 set timeout 1
 
-send "panid 0xface\n"
-expect_line "Done"
-
 attach
 
 set extaddr1 [get_extaddr]
@@ -53,9 +50,6 @@ get_rloc16
 spawn_node 2 cli
 setup_default_network
 
-send "panid 0xface\n"
-expect_line "Done"
-
 attach "router"
 
 sleep 3
@@ -65,9 +59,6 @@ get_rloc16
 spawn_node 3 cli
 setup_default_network
 
-send "panid 0xface\n"
-expect_line "Done"
-
 send "macfilter addr add ${extaddr1}\n"
 expect_line "Done"
 
@@ -85,9 +76,6 @@ get_rloc16
 spawn_node 4 cli
 setup_default_network
 
-send "panid 0xface\n"
-expect_line "Done"
-
 send "mode rn\n"
 expect_line "Done"
 
diff --git a/tests/scripts/expect/cli-networkname.exp b/tests/scripts/expect/cli-networkname.exp
index fc4edb140..6f1289ff7 100755
--- a/tests/scripts/expect/cli-networkname.exp
+++ b/tests/scripts/expect/cli-networkname.exp
@@ -30,10 +30,15 @@
 source "tests/scripts/expect/_common.exp"
 
 spawn_node 1
+setup_default_network
 spawn_node 2
 
 switch_node 1
-send "networkname Thread\\ Network\n"
+send "dataset init active\n"
+expect_line "Done"
+send "dataset networkname Thread\\ Network\n"
+expect_line "Done"
+send "dataset commit active\n"
 expect_line "Done"
 send "ifconfig up\n"
 expect_line "Done"
@@ -52,7 +57,11 @@ expect_line "Done"
 switch_node 1
 send "thread stop\n"
 expect_line "Done"
-send "networkname Thread\\ 网络\n"
+send "dataset init active\n"
+expect_line "Done"
+send "dataset networkname Thread\\ 网络\n"
+expect_line "Done"
+send "dataset commit active\n"
 expect_line "Done"
 send "thread start\n"
 expect_line "Done"
@@ -67,7 +76,11 @@ expect_line "Done"
 switch_node 1
 send "thread stop\n"
 expect_line "Done"
-send "networkname スレッド\n"
+send "dataset init active\n"
+expect_line "Done"
+send "dataset networkname スレッド\n"
+expect_line "Done"
+send "dataset commit active\n"
 expect_line "Done"
 send "thread start\n"
 expect_line "Done"
diff --git a/tests/scripts/expect/cli-reset.exp b/tests/scripts/expect/cli-reset.exp
index 644208880..b43069717 100755
--- a/tests/scripts/expect/cli-reset.exp
+++ b/tests/scripts/expect/cli-reset.exp
@@ -30,11 +30,17 @@
 source "tests/scripts/expect/_common.exp"
 
 spawn_node 1
+setup_default_network
+
+send "dataset init active\n"
+expect_line "Done"
+send "dataset panid 0xabcd\n"
+expect_line "Done"
+send "dataset commit active\n"
+expect_line "Done"
 
 send "ifconfig up\n"
 expect_line "Done"
-send "panid 0xabcd\n"
-expect_line "Done"
 send "thread start\n"
 expect_line "Done"
 
diff --git a/tests/scripts/expect/posix-rcp-restoration.exp b/tests/scripts/expect/posix-rcp-restoration.exp
index 1d3fac227..d745474cc 100755
--- a/tests/scripts/expect/posix-rcp-restoration.exp
+++ b/tests/scripts/expect/posix-rcp-restoration.exp
@@ -251,6 +251,7 @@ try {
     puts "While energy scanning"
 
     spawn_node 1 "rcp" "spinel+hdlc_uart://$host_pty"
+    setup_default_network
     attach
 
     send "scan energy 100\n"
diff --git a/tests/scripts/expect/tun-dns-client.exp b/tests/scripts/expect/tun-dns-client.exp
index 3a2ac644d..b349bc699 100755
--- a/tests/scripts/expect/tun-dns-client.exp
+++ b/tests/scripts/expect/tun-dns-client.exp
@@ -30,9 +30,8 @@
 source "tests/scripts/expect/_common.exp"
 
 spawn_node 1
+setup_default_network
 
-send "panid 0xface\n"
-expect_line "Done"
 send "ifconfig up\n"
 expect_line "Done"
 send "thread start\n"
diff --git a/tests/scripts/expect/tun-sntp.exp b/tests/scripts/expect/tun-sntp.exp
index fe91233d0..eebbf127e 100755
--- a/tests/scripts/expect/tun-sntp.exp
+++ b/tests/scripts/expect/tun-sntp.exp
@@ -32,9 +32,8 @@ source "tests/scripts/expect/_common.exp"
 skip_on_macos
 
 spawn_node 1
+setup_default_network
 
-send "panid 0xface\n"
-expect_line "Done"
 attach
 
 send "sntp query ::1 123\n"
diff --git a/tests/scripts/expect/tun-udp.exp b/tests/scripts/expect/tun-udp.exp
index 53cff14e7..65c5b227c 100755
--- a/tests/scripts/expect/tun-udp.exp
+++ b/tests/scripts/expect/tun-udp.exp
@@ -32,12 +32,10 @@
 source "tests/scripts/expect/_common.exp"
 
 spawn_node 1
+setup_default_network
 
 set timeout 1
 
-send "panid 0xface\n"
-expect_line "Done"
-
 attach
 
 send "udp open\n"