diff --git a/bin/tests/system/isctest/query.py b/bin/tests/system/isctest/query.py
index 97ebb4bc26..a7e862b7f6 100644
--- a/bin/tests/system/isctest/query.py
+++ b/bin/tests/system/isctest/query.py
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ def create(
     qtype,
     qclass=dns.rdataclass.IN,
     dnssec: bool = True,
+    rd: bool = True,
     cd: bool = False,
     ad: bool = True,
 ) -> dns.message.Message:
@@ -143,7 +144,9 @@ def create(
     msg = dns.message.make_query(
         qname, qtype, qclass, use_edns=True, want_dnssec=dnssec
     )
-    msg.flags = dns.flags.RD
+    msg.flags = 0
+    if rd:
+        msg.flags = dns.flags.RD
     if ad:
         msg.flags |= dns.flags.AD
     if cd: