diff --git a/tools/build/rtems-test-check b/tools/build/rtems-test-check
index e02f8e939e..108b7881c2 100755
--- a/tools/build/rtems-test-check
+++ b/tools/build/rtems-test-check
@@ -32,7 +32,11 @@ done
 
 case ${mode} in
  exclude)
-   output=${tests}
+   if test -f $testdata; then
+     output=""
+   else
+     output="${tests}"
+   fi
    ;;
  flags)
    if [ $test_count != 1 ]; then