diff --git a/Lib/test/test_interpreters/__init__.py b/Lib/test/test_interpreters/__init__.py
index e3d189c4efcd27..4b16ecc31156a5 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_interpreters/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_interpreters/__init__.py
@@ -1,9 +1,5 @@
 import os
-from test.support import load_package_tests, Py_GIL_DISABLED
-import unittest
-
-if Py_GIL_DISABLED:
-    raise unittest.SkipTest("GIL disabled")
+from test.support import load_package_tests
 
 def load_tests(*args):
     return load_package_tests(os.path.dirname(__file__), *args)
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_interpreters/test_channels.py b/Lib/test/test_interpreters/test_channels.py
index 52827357078b85..a87bc3a14dc462 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_interpreters/test_channels.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_interpreters/test_channels.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 import unittest
 import time
 
-from test.support import import_helper
+from test.support import import_helper, Py_GIL_DISABLED
 # Raise SkipTest if subinterpreters not supported.
 _channels = import_helper.import_module('_interpchannels')
 from concurrent import interpreters
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@
 from .utils import _run_output, TestBase
 
 
+if Py_GIL_DISABLED:
+    raise unittest.SkipTest("channels aren't completely thread-safe")
+
 class LowLevelTests(TestBase):
 
     # The behaviors in the low-level module is important in as much