diff --git a/tests/run-tests.py b/tests/run-tests.py
index 498370f70e..21e0ab8872 100755
--- a/tests/run-tests.py
+++ b/tests/run-tests.py
@@ -1340,6 +1340,7 @@ the last matching regex is used:
                 "micropython",
                 "misc",
                 "extmod",
+                "stress",
             )
             if args.inlineasm_arch is not None:
                 test_dirs += ("inlineasm/{}".format(args.inlineasm_arch),)
@@ -1349,15 +1350,11 @@ the last matching regex is used:
                 test_dirs += ("float",)
             if args.platform == "pyboard":
                 # run pyboard tests
-                test_dirs += ("stress", "ports/stm32")
-            elif args.platform == "mimxrt":
-                test_dirs += ("stress",)
+                test_dirs += ("ports/stm32",)
             elif args.platform == "renesas-ra":
                 test_dirs += ("ports/renesas-ra")
             elif args.platform == "rp2":
-                test_dirs += ("stress", "ports/rp2")
-            elif args.platform == "esp32":
-                test_dirs += ("stress",)
+                test_dirs += ("ports/rp2",)
             elif args.platform == "WiPy":
                 # run WiPy tests
                 test_dirs += ("ports/cc3200",)
@@ -1366,7 +1363,6 @@ the last matching regex is used:
                 test_dirs += (
                     "import",
                     "io",
-                    "stress",
                     "unicode",
                     "cmdline",
                     "ports/unix",
diff --git a/tests/stress/dict_copy.py b/tests/stress/dict_copy.py
index 73d3a5b51d..f9b742e20f 100644
--- a/tests/stress/dict_copy.py
+++ b/tests/stress/dict_copy.py
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 # copying a large dictionary
 
-a = {i: 2 * i for i in range(1000)}
+try:
+    a = {i: 2 * i for i in range(1000)}
+except MemoryError:
+    print("SKIP")
+    raise SystemExit
+
 b = a.copy()
 for i in range(1000):
     print(i, b[i])
diff --git a/tests/stress/dict_create.py b/tests/stress/dict_create.py
index e9db40a8e6..91a83a12f9 100644
--- a/tests/stress/dict_create.py
+++ b/tests/stress/dict_create.py
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 d = {}
 x = 1
 while x < 1000:
-    d[x] = x
+    try:
+        d[x] = x
+    except MemoryError:
+        print("SKIP")
+        raise SystemExit
     x += 1
 print(d[500])