diff --git a/nixos/modules/virtualisation/nixos-containers.nix b/nixos/modules/virtualisation/nixos-containers.nix
index f06977f88fc..3754fe6dac6 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/virtualisation/nixos-containers.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/virtualisation/nixos-containers.nix
@@ -271,8 +271,8 @@ let
     DeviceAllow = map (d: "${d.node} ${d.modifier}") cfg.allowedDevices;
   };
 
-
   system = config.nixpkgs.localSystem.system;
+  kernelVersion = config.boot.kernelPackages.kernel.version;
 
   bindMountOpts = { name, ... }: {
 
@@ -321,7 +321,6 @@ let
     };
   };
 
-
   mkBindFlag = d:
                let flagPrefix = if d.isReadOnly then " --bind-ro=" else " --bind=";
                    mountstr = if d.hostPath != null then "${d.hostPath}:${d.mountPoint}" else "${d.mountPoint}";
@@ -482,11 +481,16 @@ in
                           networking.useDHCP = false;
                           assertions = [
                             {
-                              assertion =  config.privateNetwork -> stringLength name < 12;
+                              assertion =
+                                (builtins.compareVersions kernelVersion "5.8" <= 0)
+                                -> config.privateNetwork
+                                -> stringLength name <= 11;
                               message = ''
                                 Container name `${name}` is too long: When `privateNetwork` is enabled, container names can
                                 not be longer than 11 characters, because the container's interface name is derived from it.
-                                This might be fixed in the future. See https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/38509
+                                You should either make the container name shorter or upgrade to a more recent kernel that
+                                supports interface altnames (i.e. at least Linux 5.8 - please see https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/38509
+                                for details).
                               '';
                             }
                           ];
diff --git a/nixos/tests/all-tests.nix b/nixos/tests/all-tests.nix
index bf094dbe984..02723f88c31 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/all-tests.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/all-tests.nix
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ in
   containers-imperative = handleTest ./containers-imperative.nix {};
   containers-ip = handleTest ./containers-ip.nix {};
   containers-macvlans = handleTest ./containers-macvlans.nix {};
+  containers-names = handleTest ./containers-names.nix {};
   containers-physical_interfaces = handleTest ./containers-physical_interfaces.nix {};
   containers-portforward = handleTest ./containers-portforward.nix {};
   containers-reloadable = handleTest ./containers-reloadable.nix {};
diff --git a/nixos/tests/containers-bridge.nix b/nixos/tests/containers-bridge.nix
index 1208aa8fced..12fa67c8b01 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/containers-bridge.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/containers-bridge.nix
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-# Test for NixOS' container support.
-
 let
   hostIp = "192.168.0.1";
   containerIp = "192.168.0.100/24";
@@ -7,10 +5,10 @@ let
   containerIp6 = "fc00::2/7";
 in
 
-import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, ...} : {
+import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, lib, ... }: {
   name = "containers-bridge";
-  meta = with pkgs.lib.maintainers; {
-    maintainers = [ aristid aszlig eelco kampfschlaefer ];
+  meta = {
+    maintainers = with lib.maintainers; [ aristid aszlig eelco kampfschlaefer ];
   };
 
   machine =
diff --git a/nixos/tests/containers-custom-pkgs.nix b/nixos/tests/containers-custom-pkgs.nix
index 1412c32bfb5..c050e49bc29 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/containers-custom-pkgs.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/containers-custom-pkgs.nix
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, lib, ...} : let
+import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, lib, ... }: let
 
   customPkgs = pkgs.appendOverlays [ (self: super: {
     hello = super.hello.overrideAttrs (old: {
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, lib, ...} : let
 
 in {
   name = "containers-custom-pkgs";
-  meta = with lib.maintainers; {
-    maintainers = [ adisbladis earvstedt ];
+  meta = {
+    maintainers = with lib.maintainers; [ adisbladis earvstedt ];
   };
 
   machine = { config, ... }: {
diff --git a/nixos/tests/containers-ephemeral.nix b/nixos/tests/containers-ephemeral.nix
index 692554ac0ba..fabf0593f23 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/containers-ephemeral.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/containers-ephemeral.nix
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-# Test for NixOS' container support.
-
-import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, ...} : {
+import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, lib, ... }: {
   name = "containers-ephemeral";
+  meta = {
+    maintainers = with lib.maintainers; [ patryk27 ];
+  };
 
   machine = { pkgs, ... }: {
     virtualisation.memorySize = 768;
diff --git a/nixos/tests/containers-extra_veth.nix b/nixos/tests/containers-extra_veth.nix
index 212f3d0f46c..cbbb2525832 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/containers-extra_veth.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/containers-extra_veth.nix
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
-# Test for NixOS' container support.
-
-import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, ...} : {
+import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, lib, ... }: {
   name = "containers-extra_veth";
-  meta = with pkgs.lib.maintainers; {
-    maintainers = [ kampfschlaefer ];
+  meta = {
+    maintainers = with lib.maintainers; [ kampfschlaefer ];
   };
 
   machine =
diff --git a/nixos/tests/containers-hosts.nix b/nixos/tests/containers-hosts.nix
index 65a983c42a7..1f24ed1f3c2 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/containers-hosts.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/containers-hosts.nix
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
-# Test for NixOS' container support.
-
-import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, ...} : {
+import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, lib, ... }: {
   name = "containers-hosts";
-  meta = with pkgs.lib.maintainers; {
-    maintainers = [ montag451 ];
+  meta = {
+    maintainers = with lib.maintainers; [ montag451 ];
   };
 
   machine =
diff --git a/nixos/tests/containers-imperative.nix b/nixos/tests/containers-imperative.nix
index 393b4a5135d..0ff0d3f9545 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/containers-imperative.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/containers-imperative.nix
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
-# Test for NixOS' container support.
-
-import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, ...} : {
+import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, lib, ... }: {
   name = "containers-imperative";
-  meta = with pkgs.lib.maintainers; {
-    maintainers = [ aristid aszlig eelco kampfschlaefer ];
+  meta = {
+    maintainers = with lib.maintainers; [ aristid aszlig eelco kampfschlaefer ];
   };
 
   machine =
diff --git a/nixos/tests/containers-ip.nix b/nixos/tests/containers-ip.nix
index 0265ed92d41..5abea2dbad9 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/containers-ip.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/containers-ip.nix
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-# Test for NixOS' container support.
-
 let
   webserverFor = hostAddress: localAddress: {
     inherit hostAddress localAddress;
@@ -13,10 +11,10 @@ let
     };
   };
 
-in import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, ...} : {
+in import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, lib, ... }: {
   name = "containers-ipv4-ipv6";
-  meta = with pkgs.lib.maintainers; {
-    maintainers = [ aristid aszlig eelco kampfschlaefer ];
+  meta = {
+    maintainers = with lib.maintainers; [ aristid aszlig eelco kampfschlaefer ];
   };
 
   machine =
diff --git a/nixos/tests/containers-macvlans.nix b/nixos/tests/containers-macvlans.nix
index 9425252cb88..d0f41be8c12 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/containers-macvlans.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/containers-macvlans.nix
@@ -1,15 +1,13 @@
-# Test for NixOS' container support.
-
 let
   # containers IP on VLAN 1
   containerIp1 = "192.168.1.253";
   containerIp2 = "192.168.1.254";
 in
 
-import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, ...} : {
+import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, lib, ... }: {
   name = "containers-macvlans";
-  meta = with pkgs.lib.maintainers; {
-    maintainers = [ montag451 ];
+  meta = {
+    maintainers = with lib.maintainers; [ montag451 ];
   };
 
   nodes = {
diff --git a/nixos/tests/containers-names.nix b/nixos/tests/containers-names.nix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9ad2bfb748a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nixos/tests/containers-names.nix
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, lib, ... }: {
+  name = "containers-names";
+  meta = {
+    maintainers = with lib.maintainers; [ patryk27 ];
+  };
+
+  machine = { ... }: {
+    # We're using the newest kernel, so that we can test containers with long names.
+    # Please see https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/38509 for details.
+    boot.kernelPackages = pkgs.linuxPackages_latest;
+
+    containers = let
+      container = subnet: {
+        autoStart = true;
+        privateNetwork = true;
+        hostAddress = "192.168.${subnet}.1";
+        localAddress = "192.168.${subnet}.2";
+        config = { };
+      };
+
+     in {
+      first = container "1";
+      second = container "2";
+      really-long-name = container "3";
+      really-long-long-name-2 = container "4";
+    };
+  };
+
+  testScript = ''
+    machine.wait_for_unit("default.target")
+
+    machine.succeed("ip link show | grep ve-first")
+    machine.succeed("ip link show | grep ve-second")
+    machine.succeed("ip link show | grep ve-really-lFYWO")
+    machine.succeed("ip link show | grep ve-really-l3QgY")
+  '';
+})
diff --git a/nixos/tests/containers-physical_interfaces.nix b/nixos/tests/containers-physical_interfaces.nix
index 0b55c3418ed..57bd0eedcc3 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/containers-physical_interfaces.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/containers-physical_interfaces.nix
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
-
-import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, ...} : {
+import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, lib, ... }: {
   name = "containers-physical_interfaces";
-  meta = with pkgs.lib.maintainers; {
-    maintainers = [ kampfschlaefer ];
+  meta = {
+    maintainers = with lib.maintainers; [ kampfschlaefer ];
   };
 
   nodes = {
diff --git a/nixos/tests/containers-portforward.nix b/nixos/tests/containers-portforward.nix
index d0be3c7d43e..221a6f50efd 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/containers-portforward.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/containers-portforward.nix
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-# Test for NixOS' container support.
-
 let
   hostIp = "192.168.0.1";
   hostPort = 10080;
@@ -7,10 +5,10 @@ let
   containerPort = 80;
 in
 
-import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, ...} : {
+import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, lib, ... }: {
   name = "containers-portforward";
-  meta = with pkgs.lib.maintainers; {
-    maintainers = [ aristid aszlig eelco kampfschlaefer ianwookim ];
+  meta = {
+    maintainers = with lib.maintainers; [ aristid aszlig eelco kampfschlaefer ianwookim ];
   };
 
   machine =
diff --git a/nixos/tests/containers-reloadable.nix b/nixos/tests/containers-reloadable.nix
index 87724691767..876e62c1da9 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/containers-reloadable.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/containers-reloadable.nix
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
-import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, lib, ...} :
+import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, lib, ... }:
 let
   client_base = {
-
     containers.test1 = {
       autoStart = true;
       config = {
@@ -16,8 +15,8 @@ let
   };
 in {
   name = "containers-reloadable";
-  meta = with pkgs.lib.maintainers; {
-    maintainers = [ danbst ];
+  meta = {
+    maintainers = with lib.maintainers; [ danbst ];
   };
 
   nodes = {
diff --git a/nixos/tests/containers-restart_networking.nix b/nixos/tests/containers-restart_networking.nix
index b35552b5b19..e1ad8157b28 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/containers-restart_networking.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/containers-restart_networking.nix
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-# Test for NixOS' container support.
-
 let
   client_base = {
     networking.firewall.enable = false;
@@ -16,11 +14,11 @@ let
       };
     };
   };
-in import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, ...} :
+in import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, lib, ... }:
 {
   name = "containers-restart_networking";
-  meta = with pkgs.lib.maintainers; {
-    maintainers = [ kampfschlaefer ];
+  meta = {
+    maintainers = with lib.maintainers; [ kampfschlaefer ];
   };
 
   nodes = {
diff --git a/nixos/tests/containers-tmpfs.nix b/nixos/tests/containers-tmpfs.nix
index 7ebf0d02a24..fd9f9a252ca 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/containers-tmpfs.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/containers-tmpfs.nix
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
-# Test for NixOS' container support.
-
-import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, ...} : {
+import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, lib, ... }: {
   name = "containers-tmpfs";
-  meta = with pkgs.lib.maintainers; {
-    maintainers = [ ];
+  meta = {
+    maintainers = with lib.maintainers; [ patryk27 ];
   };
 
   machine =