diff --git a/src/calibre/test_build.py b/src/calibre/test_build.py
index 8a23df108e..3e22902e73 100644
--- a/src/calibre/test_build.py
+++ b/src/calibre/test_build.py
@@ -556,6 +556,10 @@ class BuildTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
 
 def test_multiprocessing():
+    if ismacos:
+        # skip because this tests fails on some macOS systems with
+        # OSError: AF_UNIX path too long. Sigh.
+        return
     from multiprocessing import get_all_start_methods, get_context
     for stype in get_all_start_methods():
         if stype == 'fork':