diff --git a/Lib/test/test_commands.py b/Lib/test/test_commands.py
index 77372c52433..1cd8b8b59cf 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_commands.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_commands.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ def test_getoutput(self):
     def test_getstatus(self):
         # This pattern should match 'ls -ld /bin/ls' on any posix
         # system, however perversely configured.
-        pat = r'''-..x..x..x   # It is executable.
+        pat = r'''[l-]..x..x..x # It is executable. (May be a symlink.)
                   \s+\d+       # It has some number of links.
                   \s+\w+\s+\w+ # It has a user and group, which may
                                #     be named anything.