diff --git a/Lib/test/test_longexp.py b/Lib/test/test_longexp.py
index 8abb6db..00ece6d 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_longexp.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_longexp.py
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
 # this test has a malloc problem on OS/2+EMX, so skip test in that environment
 
 import sys
-from test_support import TestFailed
+from test_support import TestFailed, TestSkipped
 
 REPS = 65580
 
+if sys.platform == 'mac':
+	import gestalt
+	if gestalt.gestalt('sysv') > 0x9ff:
+		raise TestSkipped, 'Triggers pathological malloc slowdown on OSX MacPython'
 if sys.platform == "os2emx":
     raise TestFailed, "OS/2+EMX port has malloc problems with long expressions"
 else: