diff --git a/test-suite/standalone/test-guild-compile b/test-suite/standalone/test-guild-compile
index 5972d5474..edc623570 100755
--- a/test-suite/standalone/test-guild-compile
+++ b/test-suite/standalone/test-guild-compile
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ trap 'rm -f "$source" "$target"' EXIT
 
 cat > "$source"<<EOF
 (eval-when (expand load eval)
-  ;; Wait for SIGINT.
-  (pause)
+  ;; Wait for SIGINT, if the pause function exists.
+  (if (defined? 'pause) (pause) (exit 77))
 
   ;; Then sleep so that the SIGINT handler gets to run
   ;; and compilation doesn't complete before it runs.