diff --git a/src/v/datalake/translation/tests/state_machine_test.cc b/src/v/datalake/translation/tests/state_machine_test.cc
index dc026b9abe676..b276a55e3ba63 100644
--- a/src/v/datalake/translation/tests/state_machine_test.cc
+++ b/src/v/datalake/translation/tests/state_machine_test.cc
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ struct translator_stm_fixture : stm_raft_fixture<stm> {
 };
 
 TEST_F_CORO(translator_stm_fixture, state_machine_ops) {
+    enable_offset_translation();
     co_await initialize_state_machines();
     co_await wait_for_leader(5s);
     scoped_config config;