diff --git a/gnu/packages/base.scm b/gnu/packages/base.scm
index 3062274d41..a92a4b24e4 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/base.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/base.scm
@@ -172,6 +172,10 @@ (define-public sed
                     "  CONFIG_HEADER='$(CONFIG_HEADER)'\t\t\\\n")))))
             (modules '((guix build utils)))))
    (build-system gnu-build-system)
+   (arguments
+    `(#:make-flags ,(if (hurd-target?)
+                        ''("XFAIL_TESTS=test-perror2")
+                        ''())))
    (synopsis "Stream editor")
    (native-inputs (list perl))                    ;for tests
    (description