diff --git a/Lib/test/test_descr.py b/Lib/test/test_descr.py
index b38cb765cdc..fc885c5e62f 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_descr.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_descr.py
@@ -4325,7 +4325,11 @@ class Evil(object):
             def __hash__(self):
                 return hash('attr')
             def __eq__(self, other):
-                del C.attr
+                try:
+                    del C.attr
+                except AttributeError:
+                    # possible race condition
+                    pass
                 return 0
 
         class Descr(object):