diff --git a/neutron/tests/fullstack/resources/process.py b/neutron/tests/fullstack/resources/process.py
index 500a21a8bed..ed11dd08018 100644
--- a/neutron/tests/fullstack/resources/process.py
+++ b/neutron/tests/fullstack/resources/process.py
@@ -114,6 +114,9 @@ class ProcessFixture(fixtures.Fixture):
             return
 
         if kill_signal:
+            # systemd in ubuntu noble returns invalid-argument for some child
+            # processes
+            check_exit_code = False
             stop_cmd = [
                 'systemctl',
                 'kill',
@@ -124,10 +127,12 @@ class ProcessFixture(fixtures.Fixture):
             msg = (f'Process killed with signal {kill_signal}: '
                    f'{self.process_name}')
         else:
+            check_exit_code = True
             stop_cmd = ['systemctl', 'stop', '--no-block', self.unit_name]
             msg = f'Process stopped: {self.process_name}'
 
-        utils.execute(stop_cmd, run_as_root=True)
+        utils.execute(stop_cmd, run_as_root=True,
+                      check_exit_code=check_exit_code)
         common_utils.wait_until_true(self.process_is_not_running)
         LOG.debug(msg)
 
diff --git a/tools/configure_for_func_testing.sh b/tools/configure_for_func_testing.sh
index 1c71595c47c..2235a29ca0c 100755
--- a/tools/configure_for_func_testing.sh
+++ b/tools/configure_for_func_testing.sh
@@ -100,6 +100,10 @@ function _init {
     # Allow the gate to override values set by stackrc.
     DEST=${GATE_DEST:-$DEST}
     STACK_USER=${GATE_STACK_USER:-$STACK_USER}
+    sudo mkdir -p /opt/stack/data
+    sudo chown -R $STACK_USER /opt/stack/data
+    source $DEVSTACK_PATH/inc/python
+    setup_devstack_virtualenv
 
     GetDistro
     source $DEVSTACK_PATH/tools/fixup_stuff.sh
diff --git a/zuul.d/base.yaml b/zuul.d/base.yaml
index 1d7c4bc31ba..58d670c624d 100644
--- a/zuul.d/base.yaml
+++ b/zuul.d/base.yaml
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@
         DATABASE_PASSWORD: stackdb
         NEUTRON_DEPLOY_MOD_WSGI: true
       tox_envlist: dsvm-functional-gate
+      tox_environment:
+        PYTHONPATH: /opt/stack/data/venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages
       tox_constraints_file: '{{ ansible_user_dir }}/src/opendev.org/openstack/requirements/upper-constraints.txt'
       zuul_copy_output:
         # We need to copy archive with logs to have it in job artifacts also,