diff --git a/Lib/test/test_c_locale_coercion.py b/Lib/test/test_c_locale_coercion.py
index fb599b0fcb7..418f9b6154b 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_c_locale_coercion.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_c_locale_coercion.py
@@ -403,7 +403,10 @@ class LocaleCoercionTests(_LocaleHandlingTestCase):
         # skip the test if the LC_CTYPE locale is C or coerced
         old_loc = locale.setlocale(locale.LC_CTYPE, None)
         self.addCleanup(locale.setlocale, locale.LC_CTYPE, old_loc)
-        loc = locale.setlocale(locale.LC_CTYPE, "")
+        try:
+            loc = locale.setlocale(locale.LC_CTYPE, "")
+        except locale.Error as e:
+            self.skipTest(str(e))
         if loc == "C":
             self.skipTest("test requires LC_CTYPE locale different than C")
         if loc in TARGET_LOCALES :