diff --git a/plugins/inputs/sysstat/sysstat_interval_test.go b/plugins/inputs/sysstat/sysstat_interval_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3d92f6873
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/inputs/sysstat/sysstat_interval_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+// +build +linux !race
+
+package sysstat
+
+import (
+	"os/exec"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/testutil"
+)
+
+// TestInterval verifies that the correct interval is created. It is not
+// run with -race option, because in that scenario interval between the two
+// Gather calls is greater than wantedInterval.
+func TestInterval(t *testing.T) {
+	// overwriting exec commands with mock commands
+	execCommand = fakeExecCommand
+	defer func() { execCommand = exec.Command }()
+	var acc testutil.Accumulator
+
+	s.interval = 0
+	wantedInterval := 3
+
+	err := s.Gather(&acc)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	time.Sleep(time.Duration(wantedInterval) * time.Second)
+
+	err = s.Gather(&acc)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
+	if s.interval != wantedInterval {
+		t.Errorf("wrong interval: got %d, want %d", s.interval, wantedInterval)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/sysstat/sysstat_test.go b/plugins/inputs/sysstat/sysstat_test.go
index d55ca9dbf..57f97a64f 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/sysstat/sysstat_test.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/sysstat/sysstat_test.go
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"os/exec"
 	"path"
 	"testing"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/influxdata/telegraf/testutil"
 )
@@ -304,30 +303,3 @@ dell-xps	5	2016-03-25 16:18:10 UTC	sdb	%util	0.30
 	// some code here to check arguments perhaps?
 	os.Exit(0)
 }
-
-// TestGatherInterval checks that interval is correctly set.
-func TestGatherInterval(t *testing.T) {
-	// overwriting exec commands with mock commands
-	execCommand = fakeExecCommand
-	defer func() { execCommand = exec.Command }()
-	var acc testutil.Accumulator
-
-	s.interval = 0
-	wantedInterval := 3
-
-	err := s.Gather(&acc)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
-	time.Sleep(time.Duration(wantedInterval) * time.Second)
-
-	err = s.Gather(&acc)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-
-	if s.interval != wantedInterval {
-		t.Errorf("wrong interval: got %d, want %d", s.interval, wantedInterval)
-	}
-}