diff --git a/Lib/test/test_py_compile.py b/Lib/test/test_py_compile.py
index fa9726b97e6..e1795546e1f 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_py_compile.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_py_compile.py
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ def test_relative_path(self):
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(self.pyc_path))
         self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(self.cache_path))
 
+    @unittest.skipIf(os.name == 'nt',
+                     'cannot control directory permissions on Windows')
     def test_exceptions_propagate(self):
         # Make sure that exceptions raised thanks to issues with writing
         # bytecode.