diff --git a/Lib/test/test_tarfile.py b/Lib/test/test_tarfile.py
index 9a271cdb598e80f..eadf83fecdc914d 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_tarfile.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_tarfile.py
@@ -859,6 +859,8 @@ def test_read_through(self):
                                   "TarFile.extractfile() failed")
                     if not buf:
                         break
+
+    @unittest.skipIf(zlib is None, "requires zlib")
     def test_read_with_extra_header(self):
         with tarfile.open(tgzname_with_comment_extra_data_in_header,
                           mode="r|*") as _: