diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_bdist_rpm.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_bdist_rpm.py
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_bdist_rpm.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_bdist_rpm.py
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@
         sys.argv[:] = self.old_sys_argv[1]
         super(BuildRpmTestCase, self).tearDown()
 
+    @unittest.skipIf(sys.dont_write_bytecode,
+                     "bdist_rpm fails when not writing bytecode")
     def test_quiet(self):
 
         # XXX I am unable yet to make this test work without
@@ -78,6 +80,8 @@
         dist_created = os.listdir(os.path.join(pkg_dir, 'dist'))
         self.assertTrue('foo-0.1-1.noarch.rpm' in dist_created)
 
+    @unittest.skipIf(sys.dont_write_bytecode,
+                     "bdist_rpm fails when not writing bytecode")
     def test_no_optimize_flag(self):
 
         # XXX I am unable yet to make this test work without
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_py.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_py.py
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_py.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_py.py
@@ -58,7 +58,10 @@
         pkgdest = os.path.join(destination, "pkg")
         files = os.listdir(pkgdest)
         self.assertTrue("__init__.py" in files)
-        self.assertTrue("__init__.pyc" in files)
+        if sys.dont_write_bytecode:
+            self.assertFalse("__init__.pyc" in files)
+        else:
+            self.assertTrue("__init__.pyc" in files)
         self.assertTrue("README.txt" in files)
 
     def test_empty_package_dir (self):
diff --git a/Lib/importlib/test/source/test_file_loader.py b/Lib/importlib/test/source/test_file_loader.py
--- a/Lib/importlib/test/source/test_file_loader.py
+++ b/Lib/importlib/test/source/test_file_loader.py
@@ -126,7 +126,8 @@
         finally:
             os.unlink(file_path)
             pycache = os.path.dirname(imp.cache_from_source(file_path))
-            shutil.rmtree(pycache)
+            if os.path.exists(pycache):
+                shutil.rmtree(pycache)
 
 
 class BadBytecodeTest(unittest.TestCase):
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_imp.py b/Lib/test/test_imp.py
--- a/Lib/test/test_imp.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_imp.py
@@ -153,9 +153,11 @@
             mod = imp.load_source(temp_mod_name, temp_mod_name + '.py')
             self.assertEqual(mod.a, 1)
 
-            mod = imp.load_compiled(
-                temp_mod_name, imp.cache_from_source(temp_mod_name + '.py'))
-            self.assertEqual(mod.a, 1)
+            if not sys.dont_write_bytecode:
+                mod = imp.load_compiled(
+                    temp_mod_name,
+                    imp.cache_from_source(temp_mod_name + '.py'))
+                self.assertEqual(mod.a, 1)
 
             if not os.path.exists(test_package_name):
                 os.mkdir(test_package_name)
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_import.py b/Lib/test/test_import.py
--- a/Lib/test/test_import.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_import.py
@@ -93,6 +93,8 @@
 
     @unittest.skipUnless(os.name == 'posix',
                          "test meaningful only on posix systems")
+    @unittest.skipIf(sys.dont_write_bytecode,
+                     "test meaningful only when writing bytecode")
     def test_execute_bit_not_copied(self):
         # Issue 6070: under posix .pyc files got their execute bit set if
         # the .py file had the execute bit set, but they aren't executable.
@@ -235,6 +237,8 @@
             remove_files(TESTFN)
             unload(TESTFN)
 
+    @unittest.skipIf(sys.dont_write_bytecode,
+                     "test meaningful only when writing bytecode")
     def test_file_to_source(self):
         # check if __file__ points to the source file where available
         source = TESTFN + ".py"
@@ -524,6 +528,8 @@
         del sys.path[0]
         self._clean()
 
+    @unittest.skipIf(sys.dont_write_bytecode,
+                     "test meaningful only when writing bytecode")
     def test_import_pyc_path(self):
         self.assertFalse(os.path.exists('__pycache__'))
         __import__(TESTFN)
@@ -534,6 +540,8 @@
 
     @unittest.skipUnless(os.name == 'posix',
                          "test meaningful only on posix systems")
+    @unittest.skipIf(sys.dont_write_bytecode,
+                     "test meaningful only when writing bytecode")
     def test_unwritable_directory(self):
         # When the umask causes the new __pycache__ directory to be
         # unwritable, the import still succeeds but no .pyc file is written.
@@ -543,6 +551,8 @@
         self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(os.path.join(
             '__pycache__', '{}.{}.pyc'.format(TESTFN, self.tag))))
 
+    @unittest.skipIf(sys.dont_write_bytecode,
+                     "test meaningful only when writing bytecode")
     def test_missing_source(self):
         # With PEP 3147 cache layout, removing the source but leaving the pyc
         # file does not satisfy the import.
@@ -553,6 +563,8 @@
         forget(TESTFN)
         self.assertRaises(ImportError, __import__, TESTFN)
 
+    @unittest.skipIf(sys.dont_write_bytecode,
+                     "test meaningful only when writing bytecode")
     def test_missing_source_legacy(self):
         # Like test_missing_source() except that for backward compatibility,
         # when the pyc file lives where the py file would have been (and named
@@ -573,6 +585,8 @@
         pyc_file = imp.cache_from_source(TESTFN + '.py')
         self.assertEqual(m.__cached__, os.path.join(os.curdir, pyc_file))
 
+    @unittest.skipIf(sys.dont_write_bytecode,
+                     "test meaningful only when writing bytecode")
     def test___cached___legacy_pyc(self):
         # Like test___cached__() except that for backward compatibility,
         # when the pyc file lives where the py file would have been (and named
@@ -587,6 +601,8 @@
         self.assertEqual(m.__cached__,
                          os.path.join(os.curdir, os.path.relpath(pyc_file)))
 
+    @unittest.skipIf(sys.dont_write_bytecode,
+                     "test meaningful only when writing bytecode")
     def test_package___cached__(self):
         # Like test___cached__ but for packages.
         def cleanup():
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_runpy.py b/Lib/test/test_runpy.py
--- a/Lib/test/test_runpy.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_runpy.py
@@ -173,13 +173,14 @@
             del d1 # Ensure __loader__ entry doesn't keep file open
             __import__(mod_name)
             os.remove(mod_fname)
-            make_legacy_pyc(mod_fname)
-            unload(mod_name)  # In case loader caches paths
-            if verbose: print("Running from compiled:", mod_name)
-            d2 = run_module(mod_name) # Read from bytecode
-            self.assertIn("x", d2)
-            self.assertEqual(d2["x"], 1)
-            del d2 # Ensure __loader__ entry doesn't keep file open
+            if not sys.dont_write_bytecode:
+                make_legacy_pyc(mod_fname)
+                unload(mod_name)  # In case loader caches paths
+                if verbose: print("Running from compiled:", mod_name)
+                d2 = run_module(mod_name) # Read from bytecode
+                self.assertIn("x", d2)
+                self.assertEqual(d2["x"], 1)
+                del d2 # Ensure __loader__ entry doesn't keep file open
         finally:
             self._del_pkg(pkg_dir, depth, mod_name)
         if verbose: print("Module executed successfully")
@@ -197,13 +198,14 @@
             del d1 # Ensure __loader__ entry doesn't keep file open
             __import__(mod_name)
             os.remove(mod_fname)
-            make_legacy_pyc(mod_fname)
-            unload(mod_name)  # In case loader caches paths
-            if verbose: print("Running from compiled:", pkg_name)
-            d2 = run_module(pkg_name) # Read from bytecode
-            self.assertIn("x", d2)
-            self.assertTrue(d2["x"] == 1)
-            del d2 # Ensure __loader__ entry doesn't keep file open
+            if not sys.dont_write_bytecode:
+                make_legacy_pyc(mod_fname)
+                unload(mod_name)  # In case loader caches paths
+                if verbose: print("Running from compiled:", pkg_name)
+                d2 = run_module(pkg_name) # Read from bytecode
+                self.assertIn("x", d2)
+                self.assertTrue(d2["x"] == 1)
+                del d2 # Ensure __loader__ entry doesn't keep file open
         finally:
             self._del_pkg(pkg_dir, depth, pkg_name)
         if verbose: print("Package executed successfully")
@@ -253,15 +255,16 @@
             del d1 # Ensure __loader__ entry doesn't keep file open
             __import__(mod_name)
             os.remove(mod_fname)
-            make_legacy_pyc(mod_fname)
-            unload(mod_name)  # In case the loader caches paths
-            if verbose: print("Running from compiled:", mod_name)
-            d2 = run_module(mod_name, run_name=run_name) # Read from bytecode
-            self.assertIn("__package__", d2)
-            self.assertTrue(d2["__package__"] == pkg_name)
-            self.assertIn("sibling", d2)
-            self.assertIn("nephew", d2)
-            del d2 # Ensure __loader__ entry doesn't keep file open
+            if not sys.dont_write_bytecode:
+                make_legacy_pyc(mod_fname)
+                unload(mod_name)  # In case the loader caches paths
+                if verbose: print("Running from compiled:", mod_name)
+                d2 = run_module(mod_name, run_name=run_name) # Read from bytecode
+                self.assertIn("__package__", d2)
+                self.assertTrue(d2["__package__"] == pkg_name)
+                self.assertIn("sibling", d2)
+                self.assertIn("nephew", d2)
+                del d2 # Ensure __loader__ entry doesn't keep file open
         finally:
             self._del_pkg(pkg_dir, depth, mod_name)
         if verbose: print("Module executed successfully")