diff --git a/testing/util.py b/testing/util.py
index 63b52394..9f3a4248 100644
--- a/testing/util.py
+++ b/testing/util.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from testing.auto_namedtuple import auto_namedtuple
 
 
 TESTING_DIR = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
+SYSTEM_PATH = {'PATH': '/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin'}
 
 
 def docker_is_running() -> bool:  # pragma: win32 no cover
@@ -84,6 +85,10 @@ skipif_cant_run_swift = pytest.mark.skipif(
     parse_shebang.find_executable('swift') is None,
     reason="swift isn't installed or can't be found",
 )
+skipif_pre_commit_system_install = pytest.mark.skipif(
+    bool(parse_shebang.find_executable('pre-commit', SYSTEM_PATH)),
+    reason='pre-commit is installed system-wide, this test will fail',
+)
 xfailif_windows = pytest.mark.xfail(os.name == 'nt', reason='windows')
 
 
diff --git a/tests/commands/install_uninstall_test.py b/tests/commands/install_uninstall_test.py
index 83399034..bae9afb5 100644
--- a/tests/commands/install_uninstall_test.py
+++ b/tests/commands/install_uninstall_test.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ from testing.fixtures import write_config
 from testing.util import cmd_output_mocked_pre_commit_home
 from testing.util import cwd
 from testing.util import git_commit
+from testing.util import skipif_pre_commit_system_install
 
 
 def test_is_not_script():
@@ -255,6 +256,9 @@ def test_install_idempotent(tempdir_factory, store):
 
 def _path_without_us():
     # Choose a path which *probably* doesn't include us
+    # WARNING: on system with pre-commit installer system-wide,
+    # this will break the test because /usr/bin will be removed from $PATH
+    # decorate the test using this with @skipif_pre_commit_system_install
     env = dict(os.environ)
     exe = find_executable('pre-commit', _environ=env)
     while exe:
@@ -270,6 +274,7 @@ def _path_without_us():
     return env['PATH']
 
 
+@skipif_pre_commit_system_install
 def test_environment_not_sourced(tempdir_factory, store):
     path = make_consuming_repo(tempdir_factory, 'script_hooks_repo')
     with cwd(path):
@@ -528,6 +533,7 @@ def test_install_hooks_command(tempdir_factory, store):
         PRE_INSTALLED.assert_matches(output)
 
 
+@skipif_pre_commit_system_install
 def test_installed_from_venv(tempdir_factory, store):
     path = make_consuming_repo(tempdir_factory, 'script_hooks_repo')
     with cwd(path):