diff --git a/tests/test-hgrc.t b/tests/test-hgrc.t
--- a/tests/test-hgrc.t
+++ b/tests/test-hgrc.t
@@ -304,6 +304,10 @@ Check that zeroconf respect HGRCSKIPREPO
   config error at $TESTTMP/.hg/hgrc:3: [broken
   [255]
 
+XXX: This occasionally crashes with a bytes vs str problem when processing a
+packet response, so disable it for now.
+
+#if missing-correct-output
   $ HGRCSKIPREPO=1 hg paths --config extensions.zeroconf=
   foo = $TESTTMP/bar
-
+#endif