diff --git a/src/nvim/testdir/test_mksession.vim b/src/nvim/testdir/test_mksession.vim
index 5605c6a1c0..1e22f7e9c9 100644
--- a/src/nvim/testdir/test_mksession.vim
+++ b/src/nvim/testdir/test_mksession.vim
@@ -336,6 +336,9 @@ endfunc
 
 " Test for changing backslash to forward slash in filenames
 func Test_mksession_slash()
+  if exists('+shellslash')
+    throw 'Skipped: cannot use backslash in file name'
+  endif
   enew
   %bwipe!
   e a\\b\\c