diff --git a/irods/test/data_obj_test.py b/irods/test/data_obj_test.py
index 7d89b958..1904143a 100644
--- a/irods/test/data_obj_test.py
+++ b/irods/test/data_obj_test.py
@@ -2024,11 +2024,12 @@ def test_settings_load_and_save_471(self):
                     config.load(**load_logging_options)
                     self.assertTrue(config.data_objects.auto_close, RANDOM_VALUE - i - 1)
 
+    @unittest.skipIf(os.environ.get("PYTHON_IRODSCLIENT_CONFIGURATION_PATH",None) is not None,"test will not run if configuration file set.")
     def test_setting_xml_parser_choice_by_environment_only__issue_584(self):
         program = os.path.join(test_modules.__path__[0], 'test_xml_parser.py')
         xml_parser_control_var = 'PYTHON_IRODSCLIENT_CONFIG__CONNECTIONS__XML_PARSER_DEFAULT'
         with helpers.environment_variable_backed_up(xml_parser_control_var):
-            for alternate_setting in ('QUASI_XML','STANDARD_XML', 'SECURE_XML'):
+            for alternate_setting in ('QUASI_XML', 'STANDARD_XML', 'SECURE_XML'):
                 # Set xml parser for the process to be spawned.
                 os.environ[xml_parser_control_var]="'{alternate_setting}'".format(**locals())
                 # Run a simple script that imports PRC and prints which XML parser is the active default.
diff --git a/irods/test/modules/test_xml_parser.py b/irods/test/modules/test_xml_parser.py
index f9a5cf48..f9c69854 100644
--- a/irods/test/modules/test_xml_parser.py
+++ b/irods/test/modules/test_xml_parser.py
@@ -1,2 +1,4 @@
 import irods
+#  Used in test of:
+#    irods.test.data_obj_test.TestDataObjOps.test_setting_xml_parser_choice_by_environment_only__issue_584
 print(irods.client_configuration.connections.xml_parser_default)