diff --git a/Lib/test/test_interpreters/__init__.py b/Lib/test/test_interpreters/__init__.py
index 52ff553f60d0d7..e3d189c4efcd27 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_interpreters/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_interpreters/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import os
 from test.support import load_package_tests, Py_GIL_DISABLED
+import unittest
 
-if not Py_GIL_DISABLED:
-    def load_tests(*args):
-        return load_package_tests(os.path.dirname(__file__), *args)
+if Py_GIL_DISABLED:
+    raise unittest.SkipTest("GIL disabled")
+
+def load_tests(*args):
+    return load_package_tests(os.path.dirname(__file__), *args)