diff --git a/t/t2300-cd-to-toplevel.sh b/t/t2300-cd-to-toplevel.sh
index beddb4e9f2..14416b3210 100755
--- a/t/t2300-cd-to-toplevel.sh
+++ b/t/t2300-cd-to-toplevel.sh
@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ test_cd_to_toplevel repo 'at physical root'
 
 test_cd_to_toplevel repo/sub/dir 'at physical subdir'
 
+if test "$no_symlinks"; then
+	say "symbolic links not supported - skipping tests"
+else
+
 ln -s repo symrepo
 test_cd_to_toplevel symrepo 'at symbolic root'
 
@@ -34,4 +38,6 @@ cd repo
 ln -s sub/dir internal-link
 test_cd_to_toplevel internal-link 'at internal symbolic subdir'
 
+fi	# $no_symlinks
+
 test_done
diff --git a/t/t5521-pull-symlink.sh b/t/t5521-pull-symlink.sh
index 5672b51e2e..88583bfc9f 100755
--- a/t/t5521-pull-symlink.sh
+++ b/t/t5521-pull-symlink.sh
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ test_description='pulling from symlinked subdir'
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
+if test "$no_symlinks"; then
+	say "symbolic links not supported - skipping tests"
+	test_done
+fi
+
 # The scenario we are building:
 #
 #   trash\ directory/