diff --git a/gnu/packages/icu4c.scm b/gnu/packages/icu4c.scm
index cbba9aa42a..2d28107e81 100644
--- a/gnu/packages/icu4c.scm
+++ b/gnu/packages/icu4c.scm
@@ -55,6 +55,12 @@ (define-public icu4c
                     (string-prefix? "mips" s)))
               '("--with-data-packaging=archive")
               '()))
+        ,@(if (string-prefix? "i686" (or (%current-target-system)
+                                         (%current-system)))
+              ;; FIXME: Some tests are failing on i686:
+              ;; <https://unicode-org.atlassian.net/browse/ICU-20080>.
+              '(#:tests? #f)
+              '())
       #:phases
       (modify-phases %standard-phases
         (add-after 'unpack 'chdir-to-source