diff --git a/tests/test_runner/test_parallel.py b/tests/test_runner/test_parallel.py
index d4558018b0eb..fa129da76800 100644
--- a/tests/test_runner/test_parallel.py
+++ b/tests/test_runner/test_parallel.py
@@ -283,6 +283,7 @@ def test_handle_add_success(self):
         self.assertEqual(len(result.errors), 0)
         self.assertEqual(len(result.failures), 0)
 
+    @unittest.skipUnless(tblib is not None, "requires tblib to be installed")
     def test_buffer_mode_reports_setupclass_failure(self):
         test = SampleErrorTest("dummy_test")
         remote_result = RemoteTestResult()