diff --git a/Lib/test/test_curses.py b/Lib/test/test_curses.py
index f6bd27d02e4315..0833c86115ebd9 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_curses.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_curses.py
@@ -930,7 +930,7 @@ def get_pair_limit(self):
             # range may be restricted, so we need to check if the limit is still
             # correct
             try:
-                curses.init_pair(pair_limit, 0, 0)
+                curses.init_pair(pair_limit - 1, 0, 0)
             except ValueError:
                 pair_limit = curses.COLOR_PAIRS
         return pair_limit