diff --git a/tests/test_ish.py b/tests/test_ish.py
index 4461cd82..80984fbd 100644
--- a/tests/test_ish.py
+++ b/tests/test_ish.py
@@ -6,6 +6,13 @@
 
 from monetio import ish
 
+try:
+    import requests
+
+    requests.head("https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/noaa/")
+except Exception:
+    pytest.skip("NCEI server issues", allow_module_level=True)
+
 
 def test_ish_read_history():
     dates = pd.date_range("2020-09-01", "2020-09-02")
diff --git a/tests/test_ish_lite.py b/tests/test_ish_lite.py
index 94e9e75f..31aa4a24 100644
--- a/tests/test_ish_lite.py
+++ b/tests/test_ish_lite.py
@@ -3,6 +3,14 @@
 
 from monetio import ish_lite
 
+try:
+    import requests
+
+    r = requests.head("https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/noaa/isd-lite/")
+    r.raise_for_status()
+except Exception:
+    pytest.skip("NCEI server issues", allow_module_level=True)
+
 
 def test_ish_read_history():
     dates = pd.date_range("2020-09-01", "2020-09-02")