diff --git a/Lib/test/support/__init__.py b/Lib/test/support/__init__.py
index 100438bf71d3a6..cea2f09aae5d51 100644
--- a/Lib/test/support/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/test/support/__init__.py
@@ -544,7 +544,12 @@ def has_no_debug_ranges():
     return not bool(config['code_debug_ranges'])
 
 def requires_debug_ranges(reason='requires co_positions / debug_ranges'):
-    return unittest.skipIf(has_no_debug_ranges(), reason)
+    try:
+        skip = has_no_debug_ranges()
+    except unittest.SkipTest as e:
+        skip = True
+        reason = e.args[0] if e.args else reason
+    return unittest.skipIf(skip, reason)
 
 
 MS_WINDOWS = (sys.platform == 'win32')