diff --git a/Lib/test/test_pyexpat.py b/Lib/test/test_pyexpat.py
index daeaa38a3c5..3e9015910e0 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_pyexpat.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_pyexpat.py
@@ -999,7 +999,9 @@ def test_set_maximum_amplification__fail_for_subparser(self):
         self.assert_root_parser_failure(setter, 123.45)
 
 
-@unittest.skipIf(expat.version_info < (2, 7, 2), "requires Expat >= 2.7.2")
+@unittest.skipIf(not hasattr(expat.XMLParserType,
+                             "SetAllocTrackerMaximumAmplification"),
+                 "requires Python compiled with Expat >= 2.7.2")
 class MemoryProtectionTest(AttackProtectionTestBase, unittest.TestCase):
 
     # NOTE: with the default Expat configuration, the billion laughs protection
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Tests/2026-02-12-12-12-00.gh-issue-144739.-fx1tN.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Tests/2026-02-12-12-12-00.gh-issue-144739.-fx1tN.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8c46ff133f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Tests/2026-02-12-12-12-00.gh-issue-144739.-fx1tN.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+When Python was compiled with system expat older then 2.7.2 but tests run
+with newer expat, still skip
+:class:`!test.test_pyexpat.MemoryProtectionTest`.