diff --git a/src/nvim/testdir/test_registers.vim b/src/nvim/testdir/test_registers.vim
index 414244768a..e63c03d787 100644
--- a/src/nvim/testdir/test_registers.vim
+++ b/src/nvim/testdir/test_registers.vim
@@ -68,12 +68,17 @@ endfunc
 " characters as an escape sequence.
 func Test_recording_esc_sequence()
   new
-  let save_F2 = &t_F2
+  try
+    let save_F2 = &t_F2
+  catch
+  endtry
   let t_F2 = "\<Esc>OQ"
   call feedkeys("qqiTest\<Esc>", "xt")
   call feedkeys("OQuirk\<Esc>q", "xt")
   call feedkeys("Go\<Esc>@q", "xt")
   call assert_equal(['Quirk', 'Test', 'Quirk', 'Test'], getline(1, 4))
   bwipe!
-  let t_F2 = save_F2
+  if exists('save_F2')
+    let t_F2 = save_F2
+  endif
 endfunc