diff --git a/spec/02-integration/09-hybrid_mode/01-sync_spec.lua b/spec/02-integration/09-hybrid_mode/01-sync_spec.lua
index a1d2f9b37641..0025e54dd83f 100644
--- a/spec/02-integration/09-hybrid_mode/01-sync_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/02-integration/09-hybrid_mode/01-sync_spec.lua
@@ -349,6 +349,10 @@ describe("CP/DP communication #" .. strategy .. " inc_sync=" .. inc_sync, functi
 end)
 
 describe("CP/DP #version check #" .. strategy, function()
+  if inc_sync then
+    pending("relaxed compatibility check for incremental sync")
+    return
+  end
   -- for these tests, we do not need a real DP, but rather use the fake DP
   -- client so we can mock various values (e.g. node_version)
   describe("relaxed compatibility check:", function()