diff --git a/Lib/test/test_sys.py b/Lib/test/test_sys.py
index 65d15610ed1505..83745f3d0ba46e 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_sys.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_sys.py
@@ -1299,6 +1299,7 @@ def test_module_names(self):
         for name in sys.stdlib_module_names:
             self.assertIsInstance(name, str)
 
+    @unittest.skipUnless(hasattr(sys, '_stdlib_dir'), 'need sys._stdlib_dir')
     def test_stdlib_dir(self):
         os = import_helper.import_fresh_module('os')
         marker = getattr(os, '__file__', None)