diff --git a/.test-defs/CreateShoot.yaml b/.test-defs/CreateShoot.yaml
index 44464656e9b..9e26d338c5e 100644
--- a/.test-defs/CreateShoot.yaml
+++ b/.test-defs/CreateShoot.yaml
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ spec:
     -networking-provider-config-filepath=$NETWORKING_PROVIDER_CONFIG_FILEPATH
     -workers-config-filepath=$WORKERS_CONFIG_FILEPATH
     -worker-zone=$ZONE
+    -networking-type=$NETWORKING_TYPE
     -networking-pods=$NETWORKING_PODS
     -networking-services=$NETWORKING_SERVICES
     -networking-nodes=$NETWORKING_NODES
diff --git a/test/framework/shootcreationframework.go b/test/framework/shootcreationframework.go
index 194499bcaeb..8a467214999 100644
--- a/test/framework/shootcreationframework.go
+++ b/test/framework/shootcreationframework.go
@@ -337,6 +337,10 @@ func RegisterShootCreationFrameworkFlags() *ShootCreationConfig {
 	flag.StringVar(&newCfg.startHibernatedFlag, "start-hibernated", "", "the spec.hibernation.enabled to use for this shoot. Optional.")
 	flag.StringVar(&newCfg.allowPrivilegedContainersFlag, "allow-privileged-containers", "", "the spec.kubernetes.allowPrivilegedContainers to use for this shoot. Optional, defaults to true.")
 
+	if newCfg.networkingType == "" {
+		newCfg.networkingType = "calico"
+	}
+
 	newCfg.startHibernated = false
 
 	// ProviderConfigs flags