diff -r a49bda5ff3d5 Lib/test/test_readline.py
--- a/Lib/test/test_readline.py	Mon Mar 14 10:42:24 2011 +0200
+++ b/Lib/test/test_readline.py	Mon Mar 14 10:48:48 2011 -0400
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@
 readline = import_module('readline')
 
 class TestHistoryManipulation (unittest.TestCase):
+
+    @unittest.skipIf(not hasattr(readline, 'clear_history'),
+                     "clear_history is mandatory for history update test")
     def testHistoryUpdates(self):
         readline.clear_history()