diff --git a/src/test/stdtest/os.rs b/src/test/stdtest/os.rs
index 2d17afddc95e..1c26661f61dd 100644
--- a/src/test/stdtest/os.rs
+++ b/src/test/stdtest/os.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import std::generic_os::getenv;
 import std::option;
 
 #[test]
+#[ignore(reason = "fails periodically on mac")]
 fn test_setenv() {
     // NB: Each test of setenv needs to use different variable names or the
     // tests will not be threadsafe