diff --git a/test/parallel/parallel.status b/test/parallel/parallel.status
index 1e27e5c772846c..7e834943945756 100644
--- a/test/parallel/parallel.status
+++ b/test/parallel/parallel.status
@@ -20,3 +20,10 @@ test-tick-processor     : PASS,FLAKY
 [$system==solaris] # Also applies to SmartOS
 
 [$system==freebsd]
+
+# fs-watch currently needs special configuration on AIX and we
+# want to improve under https://github.com/nodejs/node/issues/5085.
+# Tests are disabled so CI can be green and we can spot other
+# regressions until this work is complete
+[$system==aix]
+test-fs-watch-enoent                 : FAIL, PASS
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-async-wrap-check-providers.js b/test/parallel/test-async-wrap-check-providers.js
index 38302be2cd0b5d..907b9fa3159926 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-async-wrap-check-providers.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-async-wrap-check-providers.js
@@ -18,6 +18,16 @@ let keyList = pkeys.slice();
 // Drop NONE
 keyList.splice(0, 1);
 
+// fs-watch currently needs special configuration on AIX and we
+// want to improve under https://github.com/nodejs/node/issues/5085.
+// strip out fs watch related parts for now
+if (common.isAix) {
+  for (var i = 0; i < keyList.length; i++) {
+    if ((keyList[i] === 'FSEVENTWRAP') || (keyList[i] === 'STATWATCHER')) {
+      keyList.splice(i, 1);
+    }
+  }
+}
 
 function init(id) {
   keyList = keyList.filter((e) => e != pkeys[id]);
@@ -33,9 +43,15 @@ async_wrap.enable();
 setTimeout(function() { });
 
 fs.stat(__filename, noop);
-fs.watchFile(__filename, noop);
-fs.unwatchFile(__filename);
-fs.watch(__filename).close();
+
+if (!common.isAix) {
+  // fs-watch currently needs special configuration on AIX and we
+  // want to improve under https://github.com/nodejs/node/issues/5085.
+  // strip out fs watch related parts for now
+  fs.watchFile(__filename, noop);
+  fs.unwatchFile(__filename);
+  fs.watch(__filename).close();
+}
 
 dns.lookup('localhost', noop);
 dns.lookupService('::', 0, noop);
diff --git a/test/sequential/sequential.status b/test/sequential/sequential.status
index ddf864ea4073c4..ac5eaedf89c46f 100644
--- a/test/sequential/sequential.status
+++ b/test/sequential/sequential.status
@@ -17,3 +17,9 @@ test-vm-syntax-error-stderr : PASS,FLAKY
 
 [$system==freebsd]
 
+# fs-watch currently needs special configuration on AIX and we
+# want to improve under https://github.com/nodejs/node/issues/5085.
+# Tests are disabled so CI can be green and we can spot other
+# regressions until this work is complete
+[$system==aix]
+test-fs-watch                        : FAIL, PASS