diff --git a/Lib/test/test_os.py b/Lib/test/test_os.py
index fc58f8d2dcd7a3..94e77007e474ea 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_os.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_os.py
@@ -3490,7 +3490,8 @@ def test_set_get_priority(self):
         os.setpriority(os.PRIO_PROCESS, os.getpid(), base + 1)
         try:
             new_prio = os.getpriority(os.PRIO_PROCESS, os.getpid())
-            if base >= 19 and new_prio <= 19:
+            # nice value cap is 19 for linux and 20 for FreeBSD
+            if base >= 19 and new_prio <= base:
                 raise unittest.SkipTest("unable to reliably test setpriority "
                                         "at current nice level of %s" % base)
             else: