diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 649b6bc8b..cf50ee1b4 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # testthat (development version)
 
+* `skip_if_offline()` now errors if you don't have curl installed (#1854).
+
 * All packages, regardless of whether or not they use rlang 1.0.0, now
   use the new snapshot display for errors, warnings, and messages (#1856).
 
diff --git a/R/skip.R b/R/skip.R
index 46d6465d8..21fd36c7b 100644
--- a/R/skip.R
+++ b/R/skip.R
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@
 #'   difficult to install.
 #'
 #' * `skip_if_offline()` skips if an internet connection is not available
-#'   (using [curl::nslookup()]) or if the test is run on CRAN.
+#'   (using [curl::nslookup()]) or if the test is run on CRAN. Requires
+#'   the curl packages to be installed.
 #'
 #' * `skip_if_translated("msg")` skips tests if the "msg" is translated.
 #'
@@ -122,8 +123,9 @@ package_version <- function(x) {
 #' @export
 #' @rdname skip
 skip_if_offline <- function(host = "r-project.org") {
+  check_installed("curl")
+
   skip_on_cran()
-  skip_if_not_installed("curl")
   skip_if_not(has_internet(host), "offline")
 }
 has_internet <- function(host) {
diff --git a/man/skip.Rd b/man/skip.Rd
index 34807a221..516e09b93 100644
--- a/man/skip.Rd
+++ b/man/skip.Rd
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@ you can assume that suggested packages are installed, and you do not
 need to check for them specifically, unless they are particularly
 difficult to install.
 \item \code{skip_if_offline()} skips if an internet connection is not available
-(using \code{\link[curl:nslookup]{curl::nslookup()}}) or if the test is run on CRAN.
+(using \code{\link[curl:nslookup]{curl::nslookup()}}) or if the test is run on CRAN. Requires
+the curl packages to be installed.
 \item \code{skip_if_translated("msg")} skips tests if the "msg" is translated.
 \item \code{skip_on_bioc()} skips on Bioconductor (using the \code{IS_BIOC_BUILD_MACHINE}
 env var).