--- a/oct2py/tests/test_usage.py
+++ b/oct2py/tests/test_usage.py
@@ -338,6 +338,7 @@
         with pytest.raises(Oct2PyError, match=exp):
             self.oc.pyeval_like_error3(1)
 
+    @pytest.mark.skip(reason="requires octave 'signal' package to be installed")
     def test_pkg_load(self):
         self.oc.eval('pkg load signal')
         t = np.linspace(0, 1, num=100)
