diff --git a/Lib/test/test_shutil.py b/Lib/test/test_shutil.py
index 076c450e09bf69..b9fdfd1350a096 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_shutil.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_shutil.py
@@ -1666,12 +1666,17 @@ def check_chown(path, uid=None, gid=None):
         shutil.chown(dirname, group=gid)
         check_chown(dirname, gid=gid)
 
-        user = pwd.getpwuid(uid)[0]
-        group = grp.getgrgid(gid)[0]
-        shutil.chown(filename, user, group)
-        check_chown(filename, uid, gid)
-        shutil.chown(dirname, user, group)
-        check_chown(dirname, uid, gid)
+        try:
+            user = pwd.getpwuid(uid)[0]
+            group = grp.getgrgid(gid)[0]
+        except KeyError:
+            # On some systems uid/gid cannot be resolved.
+            pass
+        else:
+            shutil.chown(filename, user, group)
+            check_chown(filename, uid, gid)
+            shutil.chown(dirname, user, group)
+            check_chown(dirname, uid, gid)
 
 
 class TestWhich(BaseTest, unittest.TestCase):
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Tests/2020-03-16-20-54-55.bpo-26067.m18_VV.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Tests/2020-03-16-20-54-55.bpo-26067.m18_VV.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..8b897a825d6a81
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Tests/2020-03-16-20-54-55.bpo-26067.m18_VV.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Do not fail test_shutil test_chown test when uid or gid of user cannot be resolved to a name.