diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/external.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/external.py
index e9a387aac0..e94d37b25f 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/external.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/external.py
@@ -248,6 +248,7 @@ def _determine_variants(cls, exes, version_str):
     assert gcc.external_path == os.path.sep + os.path.join("opt", "gcc", "bin")
 
 
+@pytest.mark.not_on_windows("Fails spuriously on Windows")
 def test_new_entries_are_reported_correctly(mock_executable, mutable_config, monkeypatch):
     # Prepare an environment to detect a fake gcc
     gcc_exe = mock_executable("gcc", output="echo 4.2.1")
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/install.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/install.py
index 1c29016d84..bcf5e3ecc0 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/install.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/install.py
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ def test_partial_install_delete_prefix_and_stage(install_mockery, mock_fetch, wo
     assert s.package.spec.installed
 
 
+@pytest.mark.not_on_windows("Fails spuriously on Windows")
 @pytest.mark.disable_clean_stage_check
 def test_failing_overwrite_install_should_keep_previous_installation(
     mock_fetch, install_mockery, working_env