diff --git a/Lib/test/test_threading.py b/Lib/test/test_threading.py
index fb6d268e5869f4..b666533466e578 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_threading.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_threading.py
@@ -1196,11 +1196,11 @@ def f():
             except RuntimeError:
                 print('ok')
             else:
-                print('skip')
+                print('!skip!')
         """
         _, out, err = assert_python_ok("-u", "-c", code)
         out = out.strip()
-        if out == b'skip':
+        if b'!skip!' in out:
             self.skipTest('RLIMIT_NPROC had no effect; probably superuser')
         self.assertEqual(out, b'ok')
         self.assertEqual(err, b'')