diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 2e166433..a60279b8 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -88,11 +88,11 @@ release:
 CLIENT_VM := abra-client
 vm-client-status:
 	sudo systemctl status microvm@$(CLIENT_VM).service
-vm-client-create:
+vm-client-create:test-integration-hosts
 	sudo microvm -f git+file://$$(pwd) -c $(CLIENT_VM)
 vm-client-start:
 	sudo systemctl start microvm@$(CLIENT_VM).service
-vm-client-update:
+vm-client-update:test-integration-hosts
 	sudo microvm -R -f git+file://$$(pwd) -u $(CLIENT_VM) 
 vm-client-run:
 	sudo microvm -f git+file://$$(pwd) -r $(CLIENT_VM)
@@ -121,6 +121,8 @@ vm-server-delete: vm-server-stop
 vm-server-connect:
 	ssh abra@10.0.0.3 -i ./tests/resources/local_integration_ssh
 
+test-integration-hosts:
+	./scripts/tests/extra_hosts
 test-integration:
 	ssh-add ./tests/resources/local_integration_ssh
 	@bats -Tp tests/integration --verbose-run
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index 9385e2e6..f9127896 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@
       pkgs = nixpkgs.legacyPackages.${system};
       publicKey = builtins.readFile ./tests/resources/local_integration_ssh.pub;
       privateKey = builtins.readFile ./tests/resources/local_integration_ssh;
-      localDomainHosts = builtins.readFile ./tests/resources/local_hosts;
+      # local DNS aliases for the server host
+      extraHosts = builtins.readFile ./tests/resources/extra_hosts;
       username = "abra";
       password = "abra";
       defaultDNS = [
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@
               username
               password
               defaultDNS
-              localDomainHosts
+              extraHosts
               ;
           };
         };
@@ -71,7 +72,6 @@
               username
               password
               defaultDNS
-              localDomainHosts
               ;
           };
         };
diff --git a/nix/hosts/client/configuration.nix b/nix/hosts/client/configuration.nix
index 3b903994..037b0686 100644
--- a/nix/hosts/client/configuration.nix
+++ b/nix/hosts/client/configuration.nix
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
   privateKey,
   username,
   defaultDNS,
-  localDomainHosts,
+  extraHosts,
   ...
 }:
 let
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ in
   networking.firewall.allowedTCPPorts = [ 22 ];
   networking.firewall.allowedUDPPorts = [ 22 ];
 
-  networking.extraHosts = localDomainHosts;
+  networking.extraHosts = extraHosts;
 
   environment.variables = {
     CGO_ENABLED = 0;
diff --git a/scripts/tests/extra_hosts b/scripts/tests/extra_hosts
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..0900674a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/tests/extra_hosts
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# This file generates local DNS aliases for the client VM for integration testing
+
+echo "generating hosts file..."
+hosts_file_path="./tests/resources/extra_hosts"
+echo "removing old file..."
+rm -f $hosts_file_path
+
+# the server domain
+server_ip="10.0.0.3"
+domain="abra.local"
+echo "$server_ip $domain" >> $hosts_file_path
+# static subdomains used in integration tests
+subdomains=("gitea" "zammad" "custom-html" "foo" "foobar")
+
+for subdomain in "${subdomains[@]}"
+do
+  echo "$server_ip $subdomain.$domain" >> $hosts_file_path
+done
+
+search_dir=./tests/integration
+for entry in "$search_dir"/*.bats
+do
+	file_name=$(basename "${entry}")
+	# converting file names to testing subdomains
+	subdomain=$(echo "$file_name" | tr . _)
+	echo "$server_ip $subdomain.$domain" >> $hosts_file_path
+done
+
+echo "writing extra hosts success"
diff --git a/tests/integration/helpers/hosts.bash b/tests/integration/helpers/hosts.bash
deleted file mode 100755
index 39a395ff..00000000
--- a/tests/integration/helpers/hosts.bash
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,31 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env bash
-
-echo "generating hosts file..."
-
-hosts_file_path="./tests/resources/local_hosts"
-
-echo "removing old file..."
-rm $hosts_file_path
-
-# default entries
-# the server
-echo "10.0.0.3 abra.local" >> $hosts_file_path
-# used to spin up traefik
-echo "10.0.0.3 traefik.abra.local" >> $hosts_file_path
-# used in integration tests 
-echo "10.0.0.3 gitea.abra.local" >> $hosts_file_path
-echo "10.0.0.3 zammad.abra.local" >> $hosts_file_path
-echo "10.0.0.3 custom-html.abra.local" >> $hosts_file_path
-echo "10.0.0.3 foo.abra.local" >> $hosts_file_path
-echo "10.0.0.3 foobar.abra.local" >> $hosts_file_path
-
-search_dir=./tests/integration
-for entry in "$search_dir"/*.bats
-do
-	base_name=$(basename "${entry}")
-	# converting file names to testing subdomains
-	subdomain=$(echo "$base_name" | tr . _)
-	echo "10.0.0.3 $subdomain.abra.local" >> $hosts_file_path
-done
-
-echo "writing hosts success"
diff --git a/tests/resources/local_hosts b/tests/resources/extra_hosts
similarity index 98%
rename from tests/resources/local_hosts
rename to tests/resources/extra_hosts
index c7575f89..3df669c1 100644
--- a/tests/resources/local_hosts
+++ b/tests/resources/extra_hosts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 10.0.0.3 abra.local
-10.0.0.3 traefik.abra.local
 10.0.0.3 gitea.abra.local
 10.0.0.3 zammad.abra.local
 10.0.0.3 custom-html.abra.local