diff --git a/kitty_tests/datatypes.py b/kitty_tests/datatypes.py
index 49a8adaa1..018ba7058 100644
--- a/kitty_tests/datatypes.py
+++ b/kitty_tests/datatypes.py
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@
 # vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 # License: GPL v3 Copyright: 2016, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
 
-from . import BaseTest, filled_line_buf, filled_cursor, filled_history_buf
+import os
+from unittest import skipIf
 
+from . import BaseTest, filled_line_buf, filled_cursor, filled_history_buf
 from kitty.config import build_ansi_color_table, defaults
 from kitty.utils import wcwidth, sanitize_title
 from kitty.fast_data_types import LineBuf, Cursor as C, REVERSE, ColorProfile, SpriteMap, HistoryBuf, Cursor
@@ -264,6 +266,7 @@ class TestDataTypes(BaseTest):
         lb2 = self.line_comparison_rewrap(lb, '123', 'abc', 'de ')
         self.assertContinued(lb2, False, False, True)
 
+    @skipIf('ANCIENT_WCWIDTH' in os.environ, 'wcwidth() is too old')
     def test_utils(self):
         self.ae(tuple(map(wcwidth, 'a1\0コニチ ')), (1, 1, 0, 2, 2, 2, 1))
         self.assertEqual(sanitize_title('a\0\01 \t\n\f\rb'), 'a b')
diff --git a/kitty_tests/parser.py b/kitty_tests/parser.py
index dd7b7e8c6..a4c208e01 100644
--- a/kitty_tests/parser.py
+++ b/kitty_tests/parser.py
@@ -2,10 +2,11 @@
 # vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 # License: GPL v3 Copyright: 2016, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
 
+import os
 from functools import partial
+from unittest import skipIf
 
 from . import BaseTest
-
 from kitty.fast_data_types import parse_bytes, parse_bytes_dump, CURSOR_BLOCK
 
 
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ class TestParser(BaseTest):
             q.append(('draw', current))
         self.ae(tuple(q), cmds)
 
+    @skipIf('ANCIENT_WCWIDTH' in os.environ, 'wcwidth() is too old')
     def test_simple_parsing(self):
         s = self.create_screen()
         pb = partial(self.parse_bytes_dump, s)
diff --git a/kitty_tests/screen.py b/kitty_tests/screen.py
index afa22d447..fb5c2ee7b 100644
--- a/kitty_tests/screen.py
+++ b/kitty_tests/screen.py
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@
 # vim:fileencoding=utf-8
 # License: GPL v3 Copyright: 2016, Kovid Goyal <kovid at kovidgoyal.net>
 
-from . import BaseTest
+import os
+from unittest import skipIf
 
+from . import BaseTest
 from kitty.fast_data_types import DECAWM, IRM, Cursor, DECCOLM, DECOM
 
 
@@ -53,6 +55,7 @@ class TestScreen(BaseTest):
         self.ae((s.cursor.x, s.cursor.y), (2, 4))
         self.assertChanges(s, ignore='cursor', cells={4: ((0, 4),)})
 
+    @skipIf('ANCIENT_WCWIDTH' in os.environ, 'wcwidth() is too old')
     def test_draw_char(self):
         # Test in line-wrap, non-insert mode
         s = self.create_screen()
@@ -102,6 +105,7 @@ class TestScreen(BaseTest):
         self.ae((s.cursor.x, s.cursor.y), (2, 4))
         self.assertChanges(s, ignore='cursor', cells={4: ((0, 4),)})
 
+    @skipIf('ANCIENT_WCWIDTH' in os.environ, 'wcwidth() is too old')
     def test_char_manipulation(self):
         s = self.create_screen()