diff --git a/t/t3300-funny-names.sh b/t/t3300-funny-names.sh
index ccd7063e97..897c378422 100755
--- a/t/t3300-funny-names.sh
+++ b/t/t3300-funny-names.sh
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ This test tries pathnames with funny characters in the working
 tree, index, and tree objects.
 '
 
+# since FAT/NTFS does not allow tabs in filenames, skip this test
+test "$(uname -o 2>/dev/null)" = Cygwin && exit 0
+
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 p0='no-funny'