diff --git a/test cases/python/8 different python versions/meson.build b/test cases/python/8 different python versions/meson.build
index 90556bc67..2655b0663 100644
--- a/test cases/python/8 different python versions/meson.build	
+++ b/test cases/python/8 different python versions/meson.build	
@@ -5,15 +5,27 @@ py_mod = import('python')
 
 py = py_mod.find_installation(get_option('python'), required : false)
 
+# CI images don't have 32-bit python2 for 32-bit windows,
+# so this actually gets detected then fails
+require = not (
+  get_option('python') == 'python2' and
+  host_machine.system() == 'windows' and
+  host_machine.cpu() == 'x86'
+)
+
 if py.found()
-  py_dep = py.dependency()
+  py_dep = py.dependency(required: require)
 
-  subdir('ext')
+  if py_dep.found()
+    subdir('ext')
 
-  test('extmod',
-    py,
-    args : files('blaster.py'),
-    env : ['PYTHONPATH=' + pypathdir])
+    test('extmod',
+      py,
+      args : files('blaster.py'),
+      env : ['PYTHONPATH=' + pypathdir])
+  else
+    error('MESON_SKIP_TEST: Python libraries not found, skipping test.')
+  endif
 else
   error('MESON_SKIP_TEST: Python not found, skipping test.')
 endif