diff --git a/src/syscall/syscall_unix_test.go b/src/syscall/syscall_unix_test.go
index 3462fb24468..62109ac3e7f 100644
--- a/src/syscall/syscall_unix_test.go
+++ b/src/syscall/syscall_unix_test.go
@@ -132,6 +132,11 @@ func TestFcntlFlock(t *testing.T) {
 func TestPassFD(t *testing.T) {
 	testenv.MustHaveExec(t)
 
+	if os.Getenv("GO_WANT_HELPER_PROCESS") == "1" {
+		passFDChild()
+		return
+	}
+
 	if runtime.GOOS == "aix" {
 		// Unix network isn't properly working on AIX 7.2 with Technical Level < 2
 		out, err := exec.Command("oslevel", "-s").Output()
@@ -152,11 +157,6 @@ func TestPassFD(t *testing.T) {
 
 	}
 
-	if os.Getenv("GO_WANT_HELPER_PROCESS") == "1" {
-		passFDChild()
-		return
-	}
-
 	tempDir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "TestPassFD")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)