diff --git a/t/lib-patch-mode.sh b/t/lib-patch-mode.sh
index afb4b6686c..75a3ee283d 100755
--- a/t/lib-patch-mode.sh
+++ b/t/lib-patch-mode.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
+if ! test_have_prereq PERL; then
+	say 'skipping --patch tests, perl not available'
+	test_done
+fi
+
 set_state () {
 	echo "$3" > "$1" &&
 	git add "$1" &&