diff --git a/daemon/core/conf.py b/daemon/core/conf.py
index 11ec465f..b436dd2e 100644
--- a/daemon/core/conf.py
+++ b/daemon/core/conf.py
@@ -351,6 +351,7 @@ class Configurable(object):
                 typeflags = ConfigFlags.NONE.value
             values = manager.getconfig(node_id, cls.name, defaults)[1]
             if values is None:
+                logger.warn("no active configuration for node (%s), ignoring request")
                 # node has no active config for this model (don't send defaults)
                 return None
             # reply with config options
diff --git a/daemon/tests/test_emane.py b/daemon/tests/test_emane.py
index 2a4c2af4..b34da87a 100644
--- a/daemon/tests/test_emane.py
+++ b/daemon/tests/test_emane.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 """
 Unit tests for testing with a CORE switch.
 """
-
+from core.data import ConfigData
 from core.emane.bypass import EmaneBypassModel
 from core.emane.commeffect import EmaneCommEffectModel
 from core.emane.ieee80211abg import EmaneIeee80211abgModel
@@ -90,6 +90,16 @@ class TestGui:
         # set the emane model
         core_emane.set_emane_model(emane_node, EmaneCommEffectModel)
 
+        # configure emane to enable default connectivity
+        config_data = ConfigData(
+            node=emane_node.objid,
+            object="emane_commeffect",
+            type=2,
+            data_types=(11,),
+            data_values="defaultconnectivitymode=1"
+        )
+        EmaneCommEffectModel.configure_emane(core_emane.session, config_data)
+
         # create nodes
         core_emane.create_node("n1", objid=1, position=(150, 150), services=_EMANE_SERVICES, model="mdr")
         core_emane.create_node("n2", objid=2, position=(300, 150), services=_EMANE_SERVICES, model="mdr")