diff --git a/src/cmd/api/api_test.go b/src/cmd/api/api_test.go
index 8b1b7c3ce8..53ae6fd2c8 100644
--- a/src/cmd/api/api_test.go
+++ b/src/cmd/api/api_test.go
@@ -210,6 +210,9 @@ func BenchmarkAll(b *testing.B) {
 }
 
 func TestIssue21181(t *testing.T) {
+	if testing.Short() {
+		t.Skip("skipping with -short")
+	}
 	if *flagCheck {
 		// slow, not worth repeating in -check
 		t.Skip("skipping with -check set")