diff --git a/python-systemd.spec b/python-systemd.spec
index b536108..7ac3ef8 100644
--- a/python-systemd.spec
+++ b/python-systemd.spec
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ ln -vsf %{_jsdir}/jquery/latest/jquery.min.js %{buildroot}%{_pkgdocdir}/html/_st
 cp -p README.md NEWS %{buildroot}%{_pkgdocdir}/
 
 %check
+# if the socket is not there, skip doc tests
+test -f /run/systemd/journal/stdout || \
+     sed -i 's/--doctest[^ ]*//g' pytest.ini
 make PYTHON=%{__python2} check || :
 make PYTHON=%{__python3} check || :