diff --git a/tests/test_build_applehelp.py b/tests/test_build_applehelp.py
index 89c743778..63bb0ec89 100644
--- a/tests/test_build_applehelp.py
+++ b/tests/test_build_applehelp.py
@@ -44,7 +44,8 @@ def check_localization(outdir):
 
 
 @with_app(buildername='applehelp', testroot='basic', srcdir='applehelp_output',
-          confoverrides={'applehelp_bundle_id': 'org.sphinx-doc.Sphinx.help'})
+          confoverrides={'applehelp_bundle_id': 'org.sphinx-doc.Sphinx.help',
+                         'applehelp_disable_external_tools': True})
 def test_applehelp_output(app, status, warning):
     (app.srcdir / 'en.lproj').makedirs()
     (app.srcdir / 'en.lproj' / 'localized.txt').write_text('')