diff --git a/src/tests/system/tests/test_failover.py b/src/tests/system/tests/test_connectivity.py
similarity index 79%
rename from src/tests/system/tests/test_failover.py
rename to src/tests/system/tests/test_connectivity.py
index 4f587d0b62..43782457e1 100644
--- a/src/tests/system/tests/test_failover.py
+++ b/src/tests/system/tests/test_connectivity.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 """
-SSSD Failover tests.
+SSSD Connectivity tests.
 
 :requirement: Failover
 """
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 @pytest.mark.ticket(gh=7375, jira="RHEL-17659")
 @pytest.mark.preferred_topology(KnownTopology.LDAP)
 @pytest.mark.topology(KnownTopologyGroup.AnyProvider)
-def test_failover__reactivation_timeout_is_honored(
+def test_connectivity__failover_reactivation_timeout_is_honored(
     client: Client, provider: GenericProvider, value: int | None, expected: int
 ):
     """
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ def test_failover__reactivation_timeout_is_honored(
 @pytest.mark.importance("low")
 @pytest.mark.topology(KnownTopologyGroup.AnyProvider)
 @pytest.mark.preferred_topology(KnownTopology.LDAP)
-def test_failover__connect_using_ipv4_second_family(client: Client, provider: GenericProvider):
+def test_connectivity__failover_to_ipv4_when_ipv6_unavailable(client: Client, provider: GenericProvider):
     """
     :title: Make sure that we can connect using secondary protocol
     :setup:
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ def test_failover__connect_using_ipv4_second_family(client: Client, provider: Ge
 @pytest.mark.topology(KnownTopology.AD)
 @pytest.mark.topology(KnownTopology.Samba)
 @pytest.mark.preferred_topology(KnownTopology.IPA)
-def test_failover__go_offline_if_kinit_fails(client: Client, provider: GenericProvider):
+def test_connectivity__sssd_goes_offline_when_kerberos_is_unreachable(client: Client, provider: GenericProvider):
     """
     :title: SSSD goes offline when Kerberos authentication fails
     :setup:
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ def test_failover__go_offline_if_kinit_fails(client: Client, provider: GenericPr
 @pytest.mark.importance("high")
 @pytest.mark.topology(KnownTopologyGroup.AnyProvider)
 @pytest.mark.preferred_topology(KnownTopology.LDAP)
-def test_failover__go_offline_if_ldap_fails(client: Client, provider: GenericProvider):
+def test_connectivity__sssd_goes_offline_when_ldap_is_unreachable(client: Client, provider: GenericProvider):
     """
     :title: SSSD goes offline when LDAP connection fails
     :setup:
@@ -156,3 +156,31 @@ def test_failover__go_offline_if_ldap_fails(client: Client, provider: GenericPro
     assert client.sssd.default_domain is not None, "No default domain?"
     status = client.sssctl.domain_status(client.sssd.default_domain, online=True)
     assert "Offline" in status.stdout, "SSSD is not offline!"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.importance("critical")
+@pytest.mark.ticket(gh=8709)
+@pytest.mark.topology(KnownTopologyGroup.AnyProvider)
+def test_connectivity__sssd_fails_to_start_when_client_cannot_be_resolve(client: Client, provider: GenericProvider):
+    """
+    :title: SSSD fails to start when the client hostname cannot be resolved
+    :setup:
+        1. Block outbound dns traffic
+        2. Remove records in /etc/hosts
+        3. Remove resolved from /etc/nsswitch.conf
+    :steps:
+        1. Start SSSD
+    :expectedresults:
+        1. SSSD starts
+    :customerscenario: False
+    """
+    client.firewall.outbound.drop_port((53, "tcp"))
+    client.firewall.outbound.drop_port((53, "udp"))
+
+    client.fs.backup("/etc/hosts")
+    client.fs.write("/etc/hosts", f"::1 localhost\n127.0.0.1 localhost\n")
+
+    client.fs.backup("/etc/nsswitch.conf")
+    client.fs.sed(path="/etc/nsswitch.conf", command="s/^\s*hosts:.*/hosts:      files dns/", args=["-i"])
+
+    assert client.sssd.start(), "SSSD did not start!"