diff -r 876bee0bd0ba Lib/test/test_socket.py
--- a/Lib/test/test_socket.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_socket.py
@@ -4779,12 +4779,21 @@
     """
     if not hasattr(socket, "AF_TIPC"):
         return False
-    if not os.path.isfile("/proc/modules"):
-        return False
-    with open("/proc/modules") as f:
-        for line in f:
-            if line.startswith("tipc "):
-                return True
+    try:
+        f = open("/proc/modules")
+    except IOError as e:
+        # It's ok if the file does not exist, is a directory or if we
+        # have not the permission to read it. In any other case it's a
+        # real error, so raise it again.
+        if e.errno in (ENOENT, EISDIR, EACCES):
+            return False
+        else:
+            raise
+    else:
+        with f:
+            for line in f:
+                if line.startswith("tipc "):
+                    return True
     return False
 
 @unittest.skipUnless(isTipcAvailable(),