diff --git a/unittest/python/CMakeLists.txt b/unittest/python/CMakeLists.txt
index 47fdbbfb2d..575b64252b 100644
--- a/unittest/python/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/unittest/python/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -57,10 +57,13 @@ if (Python_EXECUTABLE)
            WORKING_DIRECTORY ${EXECUTABLE_OUTPUT_PATH})
   set_tests_properties(PythonOpen PROPERTIES ENVIRONMENT "${PYTHON_TEST_ENVIRONMENT}")
 
-  add_test(NAME PythonCommands
-           COMMAND ${PYTHON_TEST_RUNNER} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/python-commands.py -v
-           WORKING_DIRECTORY ${EXECUTABLE_OUTPUT_PATH})
-  set_tests_properties(PythonCommands PROPERTIES ENVIRONMENT "${PYTHON_TEST_ENVIRONMENT}")
+  # some of the tests in this file will fail without exceptions enabled
+  if(LAMMPS_EXCEPTIONS)
+    add_test(NAME PythonCommands
+             COMMAND ${PYTHON_TEST_RUNNER} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/python-commands.py -v
+             WORKING_DIRECTORY ${EXECUTABLE_OUTPUT_PATH})
+    set_tests_properties(PythonCommands PROPERTIES ENVIRONMENT "${PYTHON_TEST_ENVIRONMENT}")
+  endif()
 
   add_test(NAME PythonNumpy
            COMMAND ${PYTHON_TEST_RUNNER} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/python-numpy.py -v