--- a/metakernel/magics/tests/test_parallel_magic.py
+++ b/metakernel/magics/tests/test_parallel_magic.py
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@
 from metakernel.tests.utils import get_kernel, get_log_text, EvalKernel
 import os
 import time
+import pytest
 
+@pytest.mark.skip(reason="requires starting an ipycluster")
 def test_parallel_magic():
     kernel = get_kernel(EvalKernel)
     # start up an EvalKernel on each node:
--- a/metakernel/tests/test_parser.py
+++ b/metakernel/tests/test_parser.py
@@ -41,8 +41,6 @@
     if not os.name == 'nt':
         code = '/usr/bi'
         assert 'bin/' in p.parse_code(code)['path_matches']
-    code = '~/.bashr'
-    assert 'bashrc' in p.parse_code(code)['path_matches']
 
     for f in os.listdir('.'):
         if f.startswith('.'):