diff --git a/tests/api-test.c b/tests/api-test.c
index 1312b6f2..0a567836 100644
--- a/tests/api-test.c
+++ b/tests/api-test.c
@@ -123,6 +123,9 @@ static int fips_mode(void)
 	int fd;
 	char buf = 0;
 
+	if (access("/etc/system-fips", F_OK))
+		return 0;
+
 	fd = open("/proc/sys/crypto/fips_enabled", O_RDONLY);
 
 	if (fd < 0)