diff --git a/test/framework/easyconfig.py b/test/framework/easyconfig.py
index a747db80aa..d969667f87 100644
--- a/test/framework/easyconfig.py
+++ b/test/framework/easyconfig.py
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
 
 import easybuild.tools.build_log
 import easybuild.framework.easyconfig as easyconfig
+import easybuild.tools.github as gh
 import easybuild.tools.systemtools as st
 from easybuild.framework.easyblock import EasyBlock
 from easybuild.framework.easyconfig.constants import EXTERNAL_MODULE_MARKER
@@ -77,6 +78,7 @@
 from easybuild.tools.systemtools import get_cpu_architecture, get_shared_lib_ext
 from easybuild.tools.toolchain.utilities import search_toolchain
 from easybuild.tools.utilities import quote_str, quote_py_str
+from test.framework.github import GITHUB_TEST_ACCOUNT
 from test.framework.utilities import find_full_path
 
 try:
@@ -113,6 +115,9 @@ def setUp(self):
         if os.path.exists(self.eb_file):
             os.remove(self.eb_file)
 
+        github_token = gh.fetch_github_token(GITHUB_TEST_ACCOUNT)
+        self.skip_github_tests = github_token is None and os.getenv('FORCE_EB_GITHUB_TESTS') is None
+
     def prep(self):
         """Prepare for test."""
         # (re)cleanup last test file
@@ -4408,6 +4413,10 @@ def test_det_copy_ec_specs(self):
             self.assertEqual(paths, args[:-1])
             self.assertEqual(target_path, args[-1])
 
+        if self.skip_github_tests:
+            print("Skipping test_det_copy_ec_specs using --from-pr, no GitHub token available?")
+            return
+
         # use fixed PR (speeds up the test due to caching in fetch_files_from_pr;
         # see https://github.com/easybuilders/easybuild-easyconfigs/pull/8007
         from_pr = 8007