diff --git a/interfaces/cython/cantera/test/test_composite.py b/interfaces/cython/cantera/test/test_composite.py
index 721c20cbf8c..c8f839aa277 100644
--- a/interfaces/cython/cantera/test/test_composite.py
+++ b/interfaces/cython/cantera/test/test_composite.py
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ def test_append_no_norm_data(self):
         self.assertEqual(states[0].P, gas.P)
         self.assertArrayNear(states[0].Y, gas.Y)
 
+    @utilities.unittest.skipIf(isinstance(_h5py, ImportError), "h5py is not installed")
     def test_import_no_norm_data(self):
         outfile = self.test_work_path / "solutionarray.h5"
         # In Python >= 3.8, this can be replaced by the missing_ok argument
@@ -469,6 +470,7 @@ def check(a, b):
         b.restore_data(data)
         check(a, b)
 
+    @utilities.unittest.skipIf(isinstance(_h5py, ImportError), "h5py is not installed")
     def test_import_no_norm_water(self):
         outfile = self.test_work_path / "solutionarray.h5"
         # In Python >= 3.8, this can be replaced by the missing_ok argument