diff --git a/Lib/test/test_resource.py b/Lib/test/test_resource.py
index 28876e3a211..86c7cc206ab 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_resource.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_resource.py
@@ -37,8 +37,11 @@ try:
         f.write("Y")
         f.flush()
         # On some systems (e.g., Ubuntu on hppa) the flush()
-        # doesn't cause the exception, but the close() does.
-        f.close()
+        # doesn't always cause the exception, but the close()
+        # does eventually.  Try closing several times in an attempt
+        # to ensure the file is really synced and the exception raised.
+        for i in range(5):
+            f.close()
     except IOError:
         if not limit_set:
             raise