diff --git a/selfdrive/car/tests/test_car_interfaces.py b/selfdrive/car/tests/test_car_interfaces.py
index a920bd45da..2306cbf456 100755
--- a/selfdrive/car/tests/test_car_interfaces.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/tests/test_car_interfaces.py
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ from openpilot.selfdrive.car.car_helpers import interfaces
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.fingerprints import all_known_cars
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.fw_versions import FW_VERSIONS
 from openpilot.selfdrive.car.interfaces import get_interface_attr
+from openpilot.selfdrive.controls.lib.latcontrol_angle import LatControlAngle
+from openpilot.selfdrive.controls.lib.latcontrol_pid import LatControlPID
+from openpilot.selfdrive.controls.lib.latcontrol_torque import LatControlTorque
+from openpilot.selfdrive.controls.lib.longcontrol import LongControl
 from openpilot.selfdrive.test.fuzzy_generation import DrawType, FuzzyGenerator
 
 ALL_ECUS = list({ecu for ecus in FW_VERSIONS.values() for ecu in ecus.keys()})
@@ -105,6 +109,17 @@ class TestCarInterfaces(unittest.TestCase):
       car_interface.apply(CC, now_nanos)
       now_nanos += DT_CTRL * 1e9  # 10ms
 
+    # Test controller initialization
+    # TODO: wait until card refactor is merged to run controller a few times,
+    #  hypothesis also slows down significantly with just one more message draw
+    LongControl(car_params)
+    if car_params.steerControlType == car.CarParams.SteerControlType.angle:
+      LatControlAngle(car_params, car_interface)
+    elif car_params.lateralTuning.which() == 'pid':
+      LatControlPID(car_params, car_interface)
+    elif car_params.lateralTuning.which() == 'torque':
+      LatControlTorque(car_params, car_interface)
+
     # Test radar interface
     RadarInterface = importlib.import_module(f'selfdrive.car.{car_params.carName}.radar_interface').RadarInterface
     radar_interface = RadarInterface(car_params)