diff --git a/test/unit/polymer.properties-element.html b/test/unit/polymer.properties-element.html
index 2f393886a7..ccabb72ea9 100644
--- a/test/unit/polymer.properties-element.html
+++ b/test/unit/polymer.properties-element.html
@@ -259,6 +259,11 @@
     });
 
     test('properties: accessor for native property', function() {
+      // old browsers with broken native properties on instances
+      // cannot pass this test.
+      if (el.hasOwnProperty('id')) {
+        test.skip();
+      }
       el.setAttribute('id', 'yo');
       assert.equal(el.id, 'yo');
       el._flushProperties();