diff --git a/unittest/force-styles/test_fix_timestep.cpp b/unittest/force-styles/test_fix_timestep.cpp
index 0ffb197f17..e5920199f9 100644
--- a/unittest/force-styles/test_fix_timestep.cpp
+++ b/unittest/force-styles/test_fix_timestep.cpp
@@ -516,9 +516,11 @@ TEST(FixTimestep, plain)
             std::cerr << "global_data, rmass, verlet: " << stats << std::endl;
     }
 
-    // rigid fixes need work to test properly with r-RESPA
+    // rigid fixes need work to test properly with r-RESPA.
+    // fix nve/limit cannot work with r-RESPA
     ifix = lmp->modify->find_fix("test");
-    if (!utils::strmatch(lmp->modify->fix[ifix]->style, "^rigid")) {
+    if (!utils::strmatch(lmp->modify->fix[ifix]->style, "^rigid")
+        && !utils::strmatch(lmp->modify->fix[ifix]->style, "^nve/limit")) {
 
         if (!verbose) ::testing::internal::CaptureStdout();
         cleanup_lammps(lmp, test_config);