diff --git a/Lib/test/test_site.py b/Lib/test/test_site.py
index 0898449..78c4809 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_site.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_site.py
@@ -26,8 +26,13 @@
 
 if site.ENABLE_USER_SITE and not os.path.isdir(site.USER_SITE):
     # need to add user site directory for tests
-    os.makedirs(site.USER_SITE)
-    site.addsitedir(site.USER_SITE)
+    try:
+        os.makedirs(site.USER_SITE)
+        site.addsitedir(site.USER_SITE)
+    except OSError as exc:
+        raise unittest.SkipTest('unable to create user site directory (%r): %s'
+                                % (site.USER_SITE, exc))
+
 
 class HelperFunctionsTests(unittest.TestCase):
     """Tests for helper functions.