diff --git a/pkg/shaman/checkout/checkout_test.go b/pkg/shaman/checkout/checkout_test.go
index f78164ed..53f0cd07 100644
--- a/pkg/shaman/checkout/checkout_test.go
+++ b/pkg/shaman/checkout/checkout_test.go
@@ -9,9 +9,12 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"projects.blender.org/studio/flamenco/pkg/api"
 	"projects.blender.org/studio/flamenco/pkg/shaman/filestore"
+	"projects.blender.org/studio/flamenco/pkg/shaman/testsupport"
 )
 
 func TestCheckout(t *testing.T) {
+	testsupport.SkipTestIfUnableToSymlink(t)
+
 	manager, cleanup := createTestManager()
 	defer cleanup()
 	ctx := context.Background()
diff --git a/pkg/shaman/checkout/manager_test.go b/pkg/shaman/checkout/manager_test.go
index b976d0c1..ebd7d319 100644
--- a/pkg/shaman/checkout/manager_test.go
+++ b/pkg/shaman/checkout/manager_test.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import (
 	"projects.blender.org/studio/flamenco/pkg/api"
 	"projects.blender.org/studio/flamenco/pkg/shaman/config"
 	"projects.blender.org/studio/flamenco/pkg/shaman/filestore"
+	"projects.blender.org/studio/flamenco/pkg/shaman/testsupport"
 )
 
 func createTestManager() (*Manager, func()) {
@@ -46,6 +47,8 @@ func createTestManager() (*Manager, func()) {
 }
 
 func TestSymlinkToCheckout(t *testing.T) {
+	testsupport.SkipTestIfUnableToSymlink(t)
+
 	manager, cleanup := createTestManager()
 	defer cleanup()
 
@@ -101,6 +104,8 @@ func TestPrepareCheckout(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestEraseCheckout(t *testing.T) {
+	testsupport.SkipTestIfUnableToSymlink(t)
+
 	manager, cleanup := createTestManager()
 	defer cleanup()
 	ctx := context.Background()
diff --git a/pkg/shaman/cleanup_test.go b/pkg/shaman/cleanup_test.go
index f45d809e..584dda43 100644
--- a/pkg/shaman/cleanup_test.go
+++ b/pkg/shaman/cleanup_test.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import (
 	"projects.blender.org/studio/flamenco/pkg/shaman/config"
 	"projects.blender.org/studio/flamenco/pkg/shaman/filestore"
 	"projects.blender.org/studio/flamenco/pkg/shaman/jwtauth"
+	"projects.blender.org/studio/flamenco/pkg/shaman/testsupport"
 )
 
 func createTestShaman() (*Server, func()) {
@@ -116,6 +117,8 @@ func TestGCFindOldFiles(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Test of the lower-level functions of the garbage collector.
 func TestGCComponents(t *testing.T) {
+	testsupport.SkipTestIfUnableToSymlink(t)
+
 	server, cleanup := createTestShaman()
 	defer cleanup()
 
@@ -200,6 +203,8 @@ func TestGCComponents(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Test of the high-level GCStorage() function.
 func TestGarbageCollect(t *testing.T) {
+	testsupport.SkipTestIfUnableToSymlink(t)
+
 	server, cleanup := createTestShaman()
 	defer cleanup()
 
diff --git a/pkg/shaman/testsupport/testsupport.go b/pkg/shaman/testsupport/testsupport.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..41817f01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/shaman/testsupport/testsupport.go
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+package testsupport
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"projects.blender.org/studio/flamenco/pkg/sysinfo"
+)
+
+func SkipTestIfUnableToSymlink(t *testing.T) {
+	can, err := sysinfo.CanSymlink()
+	switch {
+	case err != nil:
+		t.Fatalf("error checking platform symlinking capabilities: %v", err)
+	case !can:
+		t.Skip("symlinking not possible on current platform")
+	}
+}