diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b45f4fbf..3c3c63fa 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@ Keep it human-readable, your future self will thank you!
 
 ## [Unreleased](https://github.com/ecmwf/anemoi-datasets/compare/0.5.8...HEAD)
 
+### Changed
+- make test optional when adls is not installed Pull request #110
+
 ## [0.5.8](https://github.com/ecmwf/anemoi-datasets/compare/0.5.7...0.5.8) - 2024-10-26
 
 ### Changed
diff --git a/tests/create/test_create.py b/tests/create/test_create.py
index b330bbfd..6e3f381b 100755
--- a/tests/create/test_create.py
+++ b/tests/create/test_create.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 import hashlib
 import json
 import os
+import sys
 from functools import wraps
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
@@ -37,6 +38,24 @@
 assert NAMES, "No yaml files found in " + HERE
 
 
+def is_ubuntu():
+    if os.path.isfile("/etc/os-release"):
+        with open("/etc/os-release") as f:
+            return "Ubuntu" in f.read()
+    return False
+
+
+def is_darwin():
+    if os.path.isfile("/etc/os-release"):
+        with open("/etc/os-release") as f:
+            return "Darwin" in f.read()
+    return False
+
+
+# run extensive tests only on Ubuntu and Darwin, and not on Python 3.9 and 3.11
+extensive_tests = (sys.version_info[:2] not in [(3, 9), (3, 11)]) and (is_ubuntu() or is_darwin())
+
+
 def mockup_from_source(func):
     @wraps(func)
     def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
@@ -233,6 +252,7 @@ def compare(self):
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("name", NAMES)
+@pytest.mark.skipif(not extensive_tests, reason="Skipping to run the test faster")
 @mockup_from_source
 def test_run(name):
     config = os.path.join(HERE, name + ".yaml")
diff --git a/tests/xarray/test_zarr.py b/tests/xarray/test_zarr.py
index 4660f366..5847063c 100644
--- a/tests/xarray/test_zarr.py
+++ b/tests/xarray/test_zarr.py
@@ -8,12 +8,20 @@
 # nor does it submit to any jurisdiction.
 
 
+import pytest
 import xarray as xr
 
 from anemoi.datasets.create.functions.sources.xarray import XarrayFieldList
 from anemoi.datasets.data.stores import name_to_zarr_store
 from anemoi.datasets.testing import assert_field_list
 
+try:
+    import adlfs  # noqa: F401
+
+    HAS_ADLS = True
+except ImportError:
+    HAS_ADLS = False
+
 
 def test_arco_era5_1():
 
@@ -118,6 +126,7 @@ def test_noaa_replay():
     )
 
 
+@pytest.mark.skipif(not HAS_ADLS, reason="package adlfs not installed")
 def test_planetary_computer_conus404():
     url = "https://planetarycomputer.microsoft.com/api/stac/v1/collections/conus404"
     ds = xr.open_zarr(**name_to_zarr_store(url))