diff --git a/Lib/test/test_fcntl.py b/Lib/test/test_fcntl.py
index 837fc16569a..8e550820714 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_fcntl.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_fcntl.py
@@ -116,7 +116,8 @@ def test_fcntl_64_bit(self):
             os.close(fd)
 
     def test_flock(self):
-        self.f = open(TESTFN, 'wb')
+        # Solaris needs readable file for shared lock
+        self.f = open(TESTFN, 'wb+')
         fileno = self.f.fileno()
         fcntl.flock(fileno, fcntl.LOCK_SH)
         fcntl.flock(fileno, fcntl.LOCK_UN)