diff --git a/Lib/test/test_hashlib.py b/Lib/test/test_hashlib.py
index 28613496d11..177143e01dc 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_hashlib.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_hashlib.py
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ class HashLibTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         try:
             import _md5
         except ImportError:
-            pass
+            self.skipTest("_md5 module not available")
         # This forces an ImportError for "import _md5" statements
         sys.modules['_md5'] = None
         # clear the cache
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Tests/2018-01-29-21-30-44.bpo-32721.2Bebm1.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Tests/2018-01-29-21-30-44.bpo-32721.2Bebm1.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f4bf6aa1fc4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Tests/2018-01-29-21-30-44.bpo-32721.2Bebm1.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix test_hashlib to not fail if the _md5 module is not built.