diff --git a/test/regress_dns.c b/test/regress_dns.c
index 9a3f88dc..75988a95 100644
--- a/test/regress_dns.c
+++ b/test/regress_dns.c
@@ -1218,7 +1218,14 @@ test_bufferevent_connect_hostname(void *arg)
 
 	if (emfile) {
 		success = BEV_EVENT_ERROR;
+#ifdef __linux__
+		/* on linux glibc/musl reports EAI_SYSTEM, when getaddrinfo() cannot
+		 * open file for resolving service. */
 		default_error = EVUTIL_EAI_SYSTEM;
+#else
+		/* on osx/freebsd it returns EAI_NONAME */
+		default_error = EVUTIL_EAI_NONAME;
+#endif
 	}
 
 	be_connect_hostname_base = data->base;