diff --git a/Lib/test/test_embed.py b/Lib/test/test_embed.py
index c7f45b59acc..c9b65485ac7 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_embed.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_embed.py
@@ -198,6 +198,9 @@ class EmbeddingTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(out, '')
         self.assertEqual(err, '')
 
+    @unittest.skipIf(True,
+                     "FIXME: test fails randomly because of a race conditon, "
+                     "see bpo-20891")
     def test_bpo20891(self):
         """
         bpo-20891: Calling PyGILState_Ensure in a non-Python thread before