diff --git a/Lib/test/test_tarfile.py b/Lib/test/test_tarfile.py
index 590fc263a54..3d77ed55d97 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_tarfile.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_tarfile.py
@@ -351,6 +351,7 @@ class MiscReadTest(CommonReadTest):
         finally:
             tar.close()
 
+    @support.skip_unless_symlink
     def test_extractall(self):
         # Test if extractall() correctly restores directory permissions
         # and times (see issue1735).