diff --git a/tests/basics/sys1.py b/tests/basics/sys1.py
index 30e36f81a8..ab91380246 100644
--- a/tests/basics/sys1.py
+++ b/tests/basics/sys1.py
@@ -18,18 +18,3 @@ try:
 except AttributeError:
     # Effectively skip subtests
     print(True)
-
-try:
-    raise SystemExit
-except SystemExit as e:
-    print("SystemExit", e.args)
-
-try:
-    sys.exit()
-except SystemExit as e:
-    print("SystemExit", e.args)
-
-try:
-    sys.exit(42)
-except SystemExit as e:
-    print("SystemExit", e.args)
diff --git a/tests/basics/sys_exit.py b/tests/basics/sys_exit.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b1f71549db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/basics/sys_exit.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# test sys module's exit function
+
+import sys
+
+try:
+    sys.exit
+except AttributeError:
+    print("SKIP")
+    raise SystemExit
+
+try:
+    raise SystemExit
+except SystemExit as e:
+    print("SystemExit", e.args)
+
+try:
+    sys.exit()
+except SystemExit as e:
+    print("SystemExit", e.args)
+
+try:
+    sys.exit(42)
+except SystemExit as e:
+    print("SystemExit", e.args)