diff --git a/contrib/startup_regtest.sh b/contrib/startup_regtest.sh
index 08a1f376b..94df2ccb3 100755
--- a/contrib/startup_regtest.sh
+++ b/contrib/startup_regtest.sh
@@ -116,6 +116,8 @@ start_ln() {
 
 	# Kick it out of initialblockdownload if necessary
 	if bitcoin-cli -regtest getblockchaininfo | grep -q 'initialblockdownload.*true'; then
+		# Modern bitcoind needs createwallet
+		bt-cli createwallet default >/dev/null 2>&1
 		bitcoin-cli -regtest generatetoaddress 1 "$(bitcoin-cli -regtest getnewaddress)" > /dev/null
 	fi
 	alias bt-cli='bitcoin-cli -regtest'