--- a/mmtf/tests/codec_tests.py
+++ b/mmtf/tests/codec_tests.py
@@ -193,6 +193,7 @@
         with open("mmtf/tests/testdatastore/4CUP.mmtf.gz","rb") as fh:
             ungzip_data(fh.read())
 
+    @unittest.skip("not executing tests requiring network access")
     def test_fetch(self):
         if _internet_on(BASE_URL):
             decoded = fetch("4CUP")
@@ -311,6 +312,7 @@
         else:
             print("Warning - cannot connect to "+BASE_URL)
 
+    @unittest.skip("not executing tests requiring network access")
     def test_round_trip_list(self):
         id_list = [
             #