diff --git a/testsuite/expect/test1.87 b/testsuite/expect/test1.87
index 457ff29be0b476956fa828fdb5444a753a363267..0a63c106e8a8ebea29cfa01614ea9b3058d8472c 100755
--- a/testsuite/expect/test1.87
+++ b/testsuite/expect/test1.87
@@ -76,6 +76,11 @@ expect {
 		slow_kill $srun_pid
 		exit 0
 	}
+	-re "Required node not available" {
+		send_user "\nWARNING: can't test srun task distribution\n"
+		exec $bin_rm -f $file_in
+		exit $exit_code
+	}
 	-re "Unable to contact" {
 		send_user "\nFAILURE: slurm appears to be down\n"
 		exit 1