diff --git a/drivers/core/root.c b/drivers/core/root.c
index 11e08796b2..ac1c1648f3 100644
--- a/drivers/core/root.c
+++ b/drivers/core/root.c
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ int dm_init(void)
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&DM_UCLASS_ROOT_NON_CONST);
 
 	ret = device_bind_by_name(NULL, &root_info, &DM_ROOT_NON_CONST);
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
+	ret = device_probe(DM_ROOT_NON_CONST);
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
 
diff --git a/test/dm/core.c b/test/dm/core.c
index be3646b968..8c187806ec 100644
--- a/test/dm/core.c
+++ b/test/dm/core.c
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ static int dm_test_autoprobe(struct dm_test_state *dms)
 	ut_asserteq(0, dm_testdrv_op_count[DM_TEST_OP_POST_PROBE]);
 
 	/* The root device should not be activated until needed */
-	ut_assert(!(dms->root->flags & DM_FLAG_ACTIVATED));
+	ut_assert(dms->root->flags & DM_FLAG_ACTIVATED);
 
 	/*
 	 * We should be able to find the three test devices, and they should