diff --git a/nearby/tests/multidevices/host/AndroidTest.xml b/nearby/tests/multidevices/host/AndroidTest.xml
index cca0826..3c3b96c 100644
--- a/nearby/tests/multidevices/host/AndroidTest.xml
+++ b/nearby/tests/multidevices/host/AndroidTest.xml
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@
           <option name="dep-module" value="mobly" />
           <option name="dep-module" value="retry" />
         </target_preparer>
+        <target_preparer class="com.android.tradefed.targetprep.DeviceSetup">
+            <option name="force-skip-system-props" value="true" /> <!-- avoid restarting device -->
+            <option name="screen-always-on" value="on" />
+        </target_preparer>
     </device>
     <device name="device2">
         <target_preparer class="com.android.tradefed.targetprep.suite.SuiteApkInstaller">
@@ -44,6 +48,10 @@
             <option name="run-command" value="input keyevent KEYCODE_WAKEUP" />
             <option name="run-command" value="wm dismiss-keyguard" />
         </target_preparer>
+        <target_preparer class="com.android.tradefed.targetprep.DeviceSetup">
+            <option name="force-skip-system-props" value="true" /> <!-- avoid restarting device -->
+            <option name="screen-always-on" value="on" />
+        </target_preparer>
     </device>
 
     <test class="com.android.tradefed.testtype.mobly.MoblyBinaryHostTest">