diff --git a/tests/tools/test_dockerfile_pid1_reaping.py b/tests/tools/test_dockerfile_pid1_reaping.py
index c3355f3cf1e..a7d425301d8 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_dockerfile_pid1_reaping.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_dockerfile_pid1_reaping.py
@@ -138,6 +138,9 @@ def test_dockerfile_materializes_local_tui_ink_package(dockerfile_text):
 
 
 def test_dockerignore_excludes_nested_dependency_dirs():
+    if not DOCKERIGNORE.exists():
+        pytest.skip(".dockerignore not present in this checkout")
+
     text = DOCKERIGNORE.read_text()
 
     assert "**/node_modules" in text