diff --git a/tests/scripts/thread-cert/border_router/test_trel_connectivity.py b/tests/scripts/thread-cert/border_router/test_trel_connectivity.py
index 718113819..33487d836 100644
--- a/tests/scripts/thread-cert/border_router/test_trel_connectivity.py
+++ b/tests/scripts/thread-cert/border_router/test_trel_connectivity.py
@@ -104,8 +104,14 @@ class TestTrelConnectivity(thread_cert.TestCase):
         br2 = self.nodes[BR2]
         router2 = self.nodes[ROUTER2]
 
-        if br1.get_trel_state() is None:
-            self.skipTest("TREL is not enabled")
+        if br1.is_trel_enabled() is None:
+            self.skipTest("TREL is not supported")
+
+        if br1.is_trel_enabled() == False:
+            br1.enable_trel()
+
+        if br2.is_trel_enabled() == False:
+            br2.enable_trel()
 
         br1.start()
         self.wait_node_state(br1, 'leader', 10)
diff --git a/tests/scripts/thread-cert/node.py b/tests/scripts/thread-cert/node.py
index 3823e5275..b4c5f7746 100755
--- a/tests/scripts/thread-cert/node.py
+++ b/tests/scripts/thread-cert/node.py
@@ -1350,7 +1350,12 @@ class NodeImpl:
     # TREL utilities
     #
 
-    def get_trel_state(self) -> Union[None, bool]:
+    def enable_trel(self):
+        cmd = 'trel enable'
+        self.send_command(cmd)
+        self._expect_done()
+
+    def is_trel_enabled(self) -> Union[None, bool]:
         states = [r'Disabled', r'Enabled']
         self.send_command('trel')
         try: