--- skimage/_shared/testing.py
+++ skimage/_shared/testing.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import re
 import struct
 import threading
 import functools
+import platform
 from tempfile import NamedTemporaryFile

 import numpy as np
@@ -153,6 +154,8 @@ def mono_check(plugin, fmt='png'):

     All major input types should be handled.
     """
+    if platform.machine() == "s390x" and plugin == "pil" and fmt == "png":
+        pytest.skip("known to be broken on s390x")

     img = img_as_ubyte(data.moon())
     r1 = roundtrip(img, plugin, fmt)