diff --git a/internal/testenv/testenv.go b/internal/testenv/testenv.go
index ee8ef7199b..f725b959f8 100644
--- a/internal/testenv/testenv.go
+++ b/internal/testenv/testenv.go
@@ -220,6 +220,27 @@ func NeedsGoPackagesEnv(t Testing, env []string) {
 	NeedsGoPackages(t)
 }
 
+// NeedsGoBuild skips t if the current system can't build programs with ``go build''
+// and then run them with os.StartProcess or exec.Command.
+// android, and darwin/arm systems don't have the userspace go build needs to run,
+// and js/wasm doesn't support running subprocesses.
+func NeedsGoBuild(t Testing) {
+	if t, ok := t.(helperer); ok {
+		t.Helper()
+	}
+
+	NeedsTool(t, "go")
+
+	switch runtime.GOOS {
+	case "android", "js":
+		t.Skipf("skipping test: %v can't build and run Go binaries", runtime.GOOS)
+	case "darwin":
+		if strings.HasPrefix(runtime.GOARCH, "arm") {
+			t.Skipf("skipping test: darwin/arm can't build and run Go binaries")
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // ExitIfSmallMachine emits a helpful diagnostic and calls os.Exit(0) if the
 // current machine is a builder known to have scarce resources.
 //