diff --git a/tests/test_core.py b/tests/test_core.py
index 4d636301..9d3ba1e2 100644
--- a/tests/test_core.py
+++ b/tests/test_core.py
@@ -1,28 +1,33 @@
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 import pytest
-from typing import Optional, Set
+from typing import Optional, Set, List
 
 from dataclasses_json import dataclass_json
+import sys
 
 
-@dataclass_json
-@dataclass
-class Config:
-    options: list["Option"]
+# This test exists *only* to demonstrate a bug on Python 3.9+
+# It uses syntax that is not valid on earlier versions of Python!
+if sys.version_info >= (3, 9):
+    @dataclass_json
+    @dataclass
+    class Config:
+        options: list["Option"]
 
-@dataclass_json
-@dataclass
-class Option:
-    label: str
+    @dataclass_json
+    @dataclass
+    class Option:
+        label: str
 
-@dataclass_json
-@dataclass
-class ConfigWithoutStringOptions:
-    options: list[Option]
+    @dataclass_json
+    @dataclass
+    class ConfigWithoutStringOptions:
+        options: list[Option]
 
 
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(sys.version_info < (3, 9), reason="requires generic types for bug")
 class TestWarning:
     def test_warns_about_nondeterministic_resolution(self):
         with pytest.warns(UserWarning, match="Assuming hint Option resolves to .*"):