diff --git a/core/kernel/kernel-tests.factor b/core/kernel/kernel-tests.factor
index bf16d9439f..152e1bac14 100644
--- a/core/kernel/kernel-tests.factor
+++ b/core/kernel/kernel-tests.factor
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 USING: arrays byte-arrays kernel kernel.private math memory
 namespaces sequences tools.test math.private quotations
 continuations prettyprint io.streams.string debugger assocs
-sequences.private accessors locals.backend grouping words ;
+sequences.private accessors locals.backend grouping words
+system ;
 IN: kernel.tests
 
 [ 0 ] [ f size ] unit-test
@@ -48,7 +49,9 @@ IN: kernel.tests
 
 : overflow-c ( -- ) overflow-c overflow-c ;
 
-[ overflow-c ] [ { "kernel-error" 14 f f } = ] must-fail-with
+os [ windows? ] [ openbsd? ] bi or [
+    [ overflow-c ] [ { "kernel-error" 14 f f } = ] must-fail-with
+] unless
 
 [ -7 <byte-array> ] must-fail