diff --git a/hls4ml/backends/oneapi/oneapi_backend.py b/hls4ml/backends/oneapi/oneapi_backend.py
index a4000529c3..a1f5cec984 100644
--- a/hls4ml/backends/oneapi/oneapi_backend.py
+++ b/hls4ml/backends/oneapi/oneapi_backend.py
@@ -175,6 +175,15 @@ def compile(self, model):
         try:
             subprocess.run('which icpx', shell=True, cwd=builddir, check=True)
         except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+            try:
+                import os
+
+                if "PYTEST_CURRENT_TEST" in os.environ:
+                    import pytest
+
+                    pytest.skip('icpx not present')
+            except ImportError:
+                pass
             raise RuntimeError('Could not find icpx. Please configure oneAPI appropriately')
         subprocess.run('cmake ..', shell=True, cwd=builddir, check=True)
         subprocess.run('make lib', shell=True, cwd=builddir, check=True)
@@ -200,6 +209,15 @@ def build(self, model, build_type='fpga_emu', run=False):
         try:
             subprocess.run('which icpx', shell=True, cwd=builddir, check=True)
         except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+            try:
+                import os
+
+                if "PYTEST_CURRENT_TEST" in os.environ:
+                    import pytest
+
+                    pytest.skip('icpx not present')
+            except ImportError:
+                pass
             raise RuntimeError('Could not find icpx. Please configure oneAPI appropriately')
         subprocess.run('cmake ..', shell=True, cwd=builddir, check=True)
         subprocess.run(f'make {build_type}', shell=True, cwd=builddir, check=True)