diff --git a/Zend/tests/bug74093.phpt b/Zend/tests/bug74093.phpt
index fea0d5ea9d03..e1c08cb21941 100644
--- a/Zend/tests/bug74093.phpt
+++ b/Zend/tests/bug74093.phpt
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@ Bug #74093 (Maximum execution time of n+2 seconds exceed not written in error_lo
 --FLAKY--
 --SKIPIF--
 <?php
-if (!getenv('RUN_RESOURCE_HEAVY_TESTS')) die('skip resource-heavy test');
-if (getenv("SKIP_SLOW_TESTS")) die("skip slow test");
-if (PHP_ZTS) die("skip only for no-zts build");
-if (substr(PHP_OS, 0, 3) == 'WIN') die("skip not for Windows");
+skipif(!getenv('RUN_RESOURCE_HEAVY_TESTS'), 'resource-heavy test');
+skipif(getenv('SKIP_SLOW_TESTS'), 'slow test');
+skipif(PHP_ZTS, 'only for no-zts build');
+skipif(PHP_OS_FAMILY === 'Windows', 'not for Windows');
 ?>
 --INI--
 memory_limit=1G
diff --git a/Zend/tests/new_oom.phpt b/Zend/tests/new_oom.phpt
index 6d4ba3d760b4..1be334ad8f51 100644
--- a/Zend/tests/new_oom.phpt
+++ b/Zend/tests/new_oom.phpt
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 Test OOM on new of each class
 --SKIPIF--
 <?php
-if (getenv("USE_ZEND_ALLOC") === "0") die("skip requires zmm");
-if (getenv("SKIP_SLOW_TESTS")) die('skip slow test');
+skipif(getenv('USE_ZEND_ALLOC') === '0', 'requires zmm');
+skipif(getenv('SKIP_SLOW_TESTS'), 'slow test');
 ?>
 --FILE--
 <?php
diff --git a/ext/standard/tests/file/windows_acls/bug44859.phpt b/ext/standard/tests/file/windows_acls/bug44859.phpt
index 513c3a6af8a2..36270ed24c6c 100644
--- a/ext/standard/tests/file/windows_acls/bug44859.phpt
+++ b/ext/standard/tests/file/windows_acls/bug44859.phpt
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ bug #44859 (incorrect result with NTFS ACL permissions, is_writable)
 --SKIPIF--
 <?php
 include_once __DIR__ . '/common.inc';
-skipif();
+skip_unless_acl_testable();
 ?>
 --FILE--
 <?php
diff --git a/ext/standard/tests/file/windows_acls/bug44859_2.phpt b/ext/standard/tests/file/windows_acls/bug44859_2.phpt
index 4b5fd9e1399e..5415a7ea9edb 100644
--- a/ext/standard/tests/file/windows_acls/bug44859_2.phpt
+++ b/ext/standard/tests/file/windows_acls/bug44859_2.phpt
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ bug #44859 (incorrect result with NTFS ACL permissions, is_readable)
 --SKIPIF--
 <?php
 include_once __DIR__ . '/common.inc';
-skipif();
+skip_unless_acl_testable();
 ?>
 --FILE--
 <?php
diff --git a/ext/standard/tests/file/windows_acls/bug44859_3.phpt b/ext/standard/tests/file/windows_acls/bug44859_3.phpt
index 465c7557ac05..6c4df6f78165 100644
--- a/ext/standard/tests/file/windows_acls/bug44859_3.phpt
+++ b/ext/standard/tests/file/windows_acls/bug44859_3.phpt
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ bug #44859 (incorrect result with NTFS ACL permissions, is_executable)
 --SKIPIF--
 <?php
 include_once __DIR__ . '/common.inc';
-skipif();
+skip_unless_acl_testable();
 ?>
 --FILE--
 <?php
diff --git a/ext/standard/tests/file/windows_acls/bug44859_4.phpt b/ext/standard/tests/file/windows_acls/bug44859_4.phpt
index 483438bcf641..95f3efaa90a2 100644
--- a/ext/standard/tests/file/windows_acls/bug44859_4.phpt
+++ b/ext/standard/tests/file/windows_acls/bug44859_4.phpt
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ Venkat Raman Don
 --SKIPIF--
 <?php
 include_once __DIR__ . '/common.inc';
-skipif();
+skip_unless_acl_testable();
 ?>
 --FILE--
 <?php
diff --git a/ext/standard/tests/file/windows_acls/common.inc b/ext/standard/tests/file/windows_acls/common.inc
index 024989a93330..67051060eeee 100644
--- a/ext/standard/tests/file/windows_acls/common.inc
+++ b/ext/standard/tests/file/windows_acls/common.inc
@@ -9,18 +9,11 @@ define('PHPT_ACL_FULL',  1 << 5);
 define('PHPT_ACL_GRANT',  1);
 define('PHPT_ACL_DENY',  2);
 
-function skipif() {
-    if(substr(PHP_OS, 0, 3) != 'WIN' ) {
-        die('skip windows only test');
-    }
-    if(stripos(php_uname(), 'XP') !== FALSE) {
-        die('skip windows 2003 or newer only test');
-    }
-    if (getenv('GITHUB_ACTIONS')) {
-        // bug44859_4.phpt test fails on the 1st run
-        // other ACL tests cannot be run twice
-        die('skip failing on Github Actions');
-    }
+function skip_unless_acl_testable() {
+    skipif(substr(PHP_OS, 0, 3) != 'WIN', 'windows only test');
+    skipif(stripos(php_uname(), 'XP') !== FALSE, 'windows 2003 or newer only test');
+    // bug44859_4.phpt fails on the 1st run; other ACL tests cannot be run twice
+    skipif(getenv('GITHUB_ACTIONS'), 'failing on Github Actions');
 }
 
 function get_username(){
diff --git a/ext/xml/tests/bug26614.phpt b/ext/xml/tests/bug26614.phpt
index 5fb9f9da4cce..55afc3196b94 100644
--- a/ext/xml/tests/bug26614.phpt
+++ b/ext/xml/tests/bug26614.phpt
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ xml
 --SKIPIF--
 <?php
 require __DIR__ . '/libxml_expat_skipif.inc';
-skipif(want_expat: true);
+skipif(!xml_uses_expat(), 'test is for Expat');
 ?>
 --FILE--
 <?php
diff --git a/ext/xml/tests/bug26614_libxml_gte2_11.phpt b/ext/xml/tests/bug26614_libxml_gte2_11.phpt
index f494ddc4c50f..1795d5403bcd 100644
--- a/ext/xml/tests/bug26614_libxml_gte2_11.phpt
+++ b/ext/xml/tests/bug26614_libxml_gte2_11.phpt
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ xml
 --SKIPIF--
 <?php
 require __DIR__ . '/libxml_expat_skipif.inc';
-skipif(want_expat: false);
-if (LIBXML_VERSION < 21100) die('skip libxml2 test variant for version >= 2.11');
+skipif(xml_uses_expat(), 'test is for libxml');
+skipif(LIBXML_VERSION < 21100, 'libxml2 test variant for version >= 2.11');
 ?>
 --FILE--
 <?php
diff --git a/ext/xml/tests/bug26614_libxml_pre2_11.phpt b/ext/xml/tests/bug26614_libxml_pre2_11.phpt
index c78f7088e705..2a3b1b607ecc 100644
--- a/ext/xml/tests/bug26614_libxml_pre2_11.phpt
+++ b/ext/xml/tests/bug26614_libxml_pre2_11.phpt
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ xml
 --SKIPIF--
 <?php
 require __DIR__ . '/libxml_expat_skipif.inc';
-skipif(want_expat: false);
-if (LIBXML_VERSION >= 21100) die('skip libxml2 test variant for version < 2.11');
+skipif(xml_uses_expat(), 'test is for libxml');
+skipif(LIBXML_VERSION >= 21100, 'libxml2 test variant for version < 2.11');
 ?>
 --FILE--
 <?php
diff --git a/ext/xml/tests/bug81481.phpt b/ext/xml/tests/bug81481.phpt
index e6bd3aa045e7..36a7a7300b24 100644
--- a/ext/xml/tests/bug81481.phpt
+++ b/ext/xml/tests/bug81481.phpt
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@ xml
 memory_limit=-1
 --SKIPIF--
 <?php
-if (!getenv('RUN_RESOURCE_HEAVY_TESTS')) die('skip resource-heavy test');
+skipif(!getenv('RUN_RESOURCE_HEAVY_TESTS'), 'resource-heavy test');
 require __DIR__ . '/libxml_expat_skipif.inc';
-skipif(want_expat: false);
-if (getenv("SKIP_SLOW_TESTS")) die("skip slow test");
-if (PHP_INT_SIZE != 8) die("skip 64-bit only");
+skipif(xml_uses_expat(), 'test is for libxml');
+skipif(getenv('SKIP_SLOW_TESTS'), 'slow test');
+skipif(PHP_INT_SIZE != 8, '64-bit only');
 ?>
 --FILE--
 <?php
diff --git a/ext/xml/tests/gh14834.phpt b/ext/xml/tests/gh14834.phpt
index 1b7dfd157572..34492e6a1004 100644
--- a/ext/xml/tests/gh14834.phpt
+++ b/ext/xml/tests/gh14834.phpt
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ xml
 --SKIPIF--
 <?php
 require __DIR__ . '/libxml_expat_skipif.inc';
-skipif(want_expat: false);
+skipif(xml_uses_expat(), 'test is for libxml');
 ?>
 --FILE--
 <?php
diff --git a/ext/xml/tests/gh20439_2.phpt b/ext/xml/tests/gh20439_2.phpt
index dce4f5976a14..29fff5c054d2 100644
--- a/ext/xml/tests/gh20439_2.phpt
+++ b/ext/xml/tests/gh20439_2.phpt
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ xml
 --SKIPIF--
 <?php
 require __DIR__ . '/libxml_expat_skipif.inc';
-skipif(want_expat: false);
+skipif(xml_uses_expat(), 'test is for libxml');
 ?>
 --FILE--
 <?php
diff --git a/ext/xml/tests/libxml_expat_skipif.inc b/ext/xml/tests/libxml_expat_skipif.inc
index f8c5ef83db0a..0754b5db0427 100644
--- a/ext/xml/tests/libxml_expat_skipif.inc
+++ b/ext/xml/tests/libxml_expat_skipif.inc
@@ -1,9 +1,6 @@
 <?php
-function skipif(bool $want_expat) {
+function xml_uses_expat(): bool {
     ob_start();
     echo phpinfo(INFO_MODULES);
-    $output = ob_get_clean();
-    if ($want_expat !== str_contains($output, 'EXPAT')) {
-        die('skip test is for ' . ($want_expat ? 'Expat' : 'libxml'));
-    }
+    return str_contains(ob_get_clean(), 'EXPAT');
 }
diff --git a/ext/xml/tests/xml_error_string_basic_expat.phpt b/ext/xml/tests/xml_error_string_basic_expat.phpt
index c095efa8e844..b05dea9b67ed 100644
--- a/ext/xml/tests/xml_error_string_basic_expat.phpt
+++ b/ext/xml/tests/xml_error_string_basic_expat.phpt
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ xml
 --SKIPIF--
 <?php
 require __DIR__ . '/libxml_expat_skipif.inc';
-skipif(want_expat: true);
+skipif(!xml_uses_expat(), 'test is for Expat');
 ?>
 --FILE--
 <?php
diff --git a/ext/xml/tests/xml_error_string_basic_libxml.phpt b/ext/xml/tests/xml_error_string_basic_libxml.phpt
index aafd005cb4a3..b907f8ebf75a 100644
--- a/ext/xml/tests/xml_error_string_basic_libxml.phpt
+++ b/ext/xml/tests/xml_error_string_basic_libxml.phpt
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ xml
 --SKIPIF--
 <?php
 require __DIR__ . '/libxml_expat_skipif.inc';
-skipif(want_expat: false);
+skipif(xml_uses_expat(), 'test is for libxml');
 ?>
 --FILE--
 <?php
diff --git a/ext/xml/tests/xml_set_start_namespace_decl_handler_basic_expat.phpt b/ext/xml/tests/xml_set_start_namespace_decl_handler_basic_expat.phpt
index 34babe4d30f6..da113ff43298 100644
--- a/ext/xml/tests/xml_set_start_namespace_decl_handler_basic_expat.phpt
+++ b/ext/xml/tests/xml_set_start_namespace_decl_handler_basic_expat.phpt
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ xml
 --SKIPIF--
 <?php
 require __DIR__ . '/libxml_expat_skipif.inc';
-skipif(want_expat: true);
+skipif(!xml_uses_expat(), 'test is for Expat');
 ?>
 --FILE--
 <?php
diff --git a/ext/xml/tests/xml_set_start_namespace_decl_handler_basic_libxml.phpt b/ext/xml/tests/xml_set_start_namespace_decl_handler_basic_libxml.phpt
index ff6057c075d5..0b19c25ffc20 100644
--- a/ext/xml/tests/xml_set_start_namespace_decl_handler_basic_libxml.phpt
+++ b/ext/xml/tests/xml_set_start_namespace_decl_handler_basic_libxml.phpt
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ xml
 --SKIPIF--
 <?php
 require __DIR__ . '/libxml_expat_skipif.inc';
-skipif(want_expat: false);
+skipif(xml_uses_expat(), 'test is for libxml');
 ?>
 --FILE--
 <?php
diff --git a/run-tests.php b/run-tests.php
index 56c2255419a1..abda538ecf4f 100755
--- a/run-tests.php
+++ b/run-tests.php
@@ -3866,6 +3866,9 @@ private function mergeSuites(array &$dest, array $source): void
 
 class SkipCache
 {
+    // Kept on one line so SKIPIF line numbers are unchanged.
+    private const HELPERS = '<?php function skipif($condition, string $reason): void { if ($condition) { echo "skip $reason"; exit; } } ?>';
+
     private bool $enable;
     private bool $keepFile;
 
@@ -3893,12 +3896,12 @@ public function checkSkip(array $command, string $code, string $checkFile, strin
         if (isset($this->skips[$key][$code])) {
             $this->hits++;
             if ($this->keepFile) {
-                save_text($checkFile, $code, $tempFile);
+                save_text($checkFile, self::HELPERS . $code, $tempFile);
             }
             return $this->skips[$key][$code];
         }
 
-        save_text($checkFile, $code, $tempFile);
+        save_text($checkFile, self::HELPERS . $code, $tempFile);
         $env['TEST_PHP_EVALUATING_SKIPIF'] = '1';
         $command[] = $checkFile;
         $result = trim(system_with_timeout($command, $env));