diff --git a/tests/views/test_settings.py b/tests/views/test_settings.py
index cc16eb5..8033edd 100644
--- a/tests/views/test_settings.py
+++ b/tests/views/test_settings.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8; -*-
 
+import sys
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
 import colander
@@ -57,9 +58,11 @@ class TestAppInfoView(WebTestCase):
         # invalid
         with patch.object(self.request, "GET", new={"tzname": "bad_name"}):
             result = view.configure_check_timezone()
-            self.assertEqual(
-                result["invalid"], "'No time zone found with key bad_name'"
-            )
+            # nb. this check won't work for python 3.8
+            if sys.version_info >= (3, 9):
+                self.assertEqual(
+                    result["invalid"], "'No time zone found with key bad_name'"
+                )
 
         # missing input
         with patch.object(self.request, "GET", new={}):