diff --git a/tests/cluster/check_cluster.py b/tests/cluster/check_cluster.py
index 2c9ad3ebf..7f5537591 100644
--- a/tests/cluster/check_cluster.py
+++ b/tests/cluster/check_cluster.py
@@ -18,18 +18,18 @@
 from ducktape.cluster.cluster_spec import NodeSpec, ClusterSpec, LINUX, WINDOWS
 from tests.ducktape_mock import FakeCluster
 
-FakeRemoteAccount = collections.namedtuple('FakeRemoteAccount', ['operating_system'])
+FakeRemoteAccount = collections.namedtuple('FakeRemoteAccount', ['operating_system', 'host_type'])
 
 
 class CheckCluster(object):
 
     def setup_method(self, _):
         self.cluster = FakeCluster(0)
-        self.cluster._available_nodes.add_node(ClusterNode(FakeRemoteAccount(operating_system=LINUX)))
-        self.cluster._available_nodes.add_node(ClusterNode(FakeRemoteAccount(operating_system=LINUX)))
-        self.cluster._available_nodes.add_node(ClusterNode(FakeRemoteAccount(operating_system=WINDOWS)))
-        self.cluster._available_nodes.add_node(ClusterNode(FakeRemoteAccount(operating_system=WINDOWS)))
-        self.cluster._available_nodes.add_node(ClusterNode(FakeRemoteAccount(operating_system=WINDOWS)))
+        self.cluster._available_nodes.add_node(ClusterNode(FakeRemoteAccount(operating_system=LINUX, host_type=LINUX)))
+        self.cluster._available_nodes.add_node(ClusterNode(FakeRemoteAccount(operating_system=LINUX, host_type=LINUX)))
+        self.cluster._available_nodes.add_node(ClusterNode(FakeRemoteAccount(operating_system=WINDOWS, host_type=WINDOWS)))
+        self.cluster._available_nodes.add_node(ClusterNode(FakeRemoteAccount(operating_system=WINDOWS, host_type=WINDOWS)))
+        self.cluster._available_nodes.add_node(ClusterNode(FakeRemoteAccount(operating_system=WINDOWS, host_type=WINDOWS)))
 
     def spec(self, linux_nodes, windows_nodes):
         nodes = []
diff --git a/tests/cluster/check_cluster_spec.py b/tests/cluster/check_cluster_spec.py
index b50c9edbe..142906dae 100644
--- a/tests/cluster/check_cluster_spec.py
+++ b/tests/cluster/check_cluster_spec.py
@@ -25,4 +25,11 @@ def check_to_string(self):
         empty = ClusterSpec.empty()
         assert "[]" == str(empty)
         simple_linux_5 = ClusterSpec.simple_linux(5)
-        assert '[{"num_nodes": 5, "os": "linux"}]' == str(simple_linux_5)
+        assert '[{"num_nodes": 5, "type": "linux"}]' == str(simple_linux_5)
+
+    def check_from_dict(self):
+        empty = ClusterSpec.empty()
+        assert "[]" == str(empty)
+        node_specs_dict = {"linux": 2, "windows": 3}
+        linux_2_windows_3 = ClusterSpec.from_dict(node_specs_dict)
+        assert '[{"num_nodes": 2, "type": "linux"}, {"num_nodes": 3, "type": "windows"}]' == str(linux_2_windows_3)
diff --git a/tests/cluster/check_finite_subcluster.py b/tests/cluster/check_finite_subcluster.py
index 0ef4d6182..66c5dda7a 100644
--- a/tests/cluster/check_finite_subcluster.py
+++ b/tests/cluster/check_finite_subcluster.py
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ class MockFiniteSubclusterNode:
     def operating_system(self):
         return LINUX
 
+    @property
+    def host_type(self):
+        return LINUX
 
 class CheckFiniteSubcluster(object):
     single_node_cluster_json = {"nodes": [{"hostname": "localhost"}]}
diff --git a/tests/ducktape_mock.py b/tests/ducktape_mock.py
index 3477b4d56..d74b058bc 100644
--- a/tests/ducktape_mock.py
+++ b/tests/ducktape_mock.py
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ class FakeClusterNode(object):
     def operating_system(self):
         return LINUX
 
+    @property
+    def host_type(self):
+        return LINUX
 
 class FakeCluster(Cluster):
     """A cluster class with counters, but no actual node objects"""