diff --git a/test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/binding.cc b/test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/binding.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..65390852c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/binding.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <node.h>
+#include <v8.h>
+
+void EnsureAllocation(const v8::FunctionCallbackInfo<v8::Value> &args) {
+  v8::Isolate* isolate = args.GetIsolate();
+  uintptr_t size = args[0]->IntegerValue();
+  v8::Local<v8::Boolean> success;
+
+  void* buffer = malloc(size);
+  if (buffer) {
+    success = v8::Boolean::New(isolate, true);
+    free(buffer);
+  } else {
+    success = v8::Boolean::New(isolate, false);
+  }
+  args.GetReturnValue().Set(success);
+}
+
+void init(v8::Local<v8::Object> target) {
+  NODE_SET_METHOD(target, "ensureAllocation", EnsureAllocation);
+}
+
+NODE_MODULE(binding, init);
diff --git a/test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/binding.gyp b/test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/binding.gyp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3bfb84493f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/binding.gyp
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  'targets': [
+    {
+      'target_name': 'binding',
+      'sources': [ 'binding.cc' ]
+    }
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-ascii.js b/test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-ascii.js
similarity index 73%
rename from test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-ascii.js
rename to test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-ascii.js
index 058bc435fc..1a636a5c7f 100644
--- a/test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-ascii.js
+++ b/test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-ascii.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 'use strict';
-// Flags: --expose-gc
 
-const common = require('../common');
+const common = require('../../common');
+const binding = require('./build/Release/binding');
 const assert = require('assert');
 
 const skipMessage =
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ if (!common.enoughTestMem) {
   console.log(skipMessage);
   return;
 }
-assert(typeof gc === 'function', 'Run this test with --expose-gc');
 
 // v8 fails silently if string length > v8::String::kMaxLength
 // v8::String::kMaxLength defined in v8.h
@@ -18,9 +17,6 @@ const kStringMaxLength = process.binding('buffer').kStringMaxLength;
 
 try {
   var buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(kStringMaxLength + 1);
-  // Try to allocate memory first then force gc so future allocations succeed.
-  Buffer.allocUnsafe(2 * kStringMaxLength);
-  gc();
 } catch (e) {
   // If the exception is not due to memory confinement then rethrow it.
   if (e.message !== 'Array buffer allocation failed') throw (e);
@@ -28,6 +24,12 @@ try {
   return;
 }
 
+// Ensure we have enough memory available for future allocations to succeed.
+if (!binding.ensureAllocation(2 * kStringMaxLength)) {
+  console.log(skipMessage);
+  return;
+}
+
 assert.throws(function() {
   buf.toString('ascii');
 }, /"toString\(\)" failed/);
diff --git a/test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-base64.js b/test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-base64.js
similarity index 73%
rename from test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-base64.js
rename to test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-base64.js
index cc65206b4e..82268bc5cd 100644
--- a/test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-base64.js
+++ b/test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-base64.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 'use strict';
-// Flags: --expose-gc
 
-const common = require('../common');
+const common = require('../../common');
+const binding = require('./build/Release/binding');
 const assert = require('assert');
 
 const skipMessage =
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ if (!common.enoughTestMem) {
   console.log(skipMessage);
   return;
 }
-assert(typeof gc === 'function', 'Run this test with --expose-gc');
 
 // v8 fails silently if string length > v8::String::kMaxLength
 // v8::String::kMaxLength defined in v8.h
@@ -18,9 +17,6 @@ const kStringMaxLength = process.binding('buffer').kStringMaxLength;
 
 try {
   var buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(kStringMaxLength + 1);
-  // Try to allocate memory first then force gc so future allocations succeed.
-  Buffer.allocUnsafe(2 * kStringMaxLength);
-  gc();
 } catch (e) {
   // If the exception is not due to memory confinement then rethrow it.
   if (e.message !== 'Array buffer allocation failed') throw (e);
@@ -28,6 +24,12 @@ try {
   return;
 }
 
+// Ensure we have enough memory available for future allocations to succeed.
+if (!binding.ensureAllocation(2 * kStringMaxLength)) {
+  console.log(skipMessage);
+  return;
+}
+
 assert.throws(function() {
   buf.toString('base64');
 }, /"toString\(\)" failed/);
diff --git a/test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-binary.js b/test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-binary.js
similarity index 79%
rename from test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-binary.js
rename to test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-binary.js
index 8689745528..4cd4ca9dd9 100644
--- a/test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-binary.js
+++ b/test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-binary.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 'use strict';
-// Flags: --expose-gc
 
-const common = require('../common');
+const common = require('../../common');
+const binding = require('./build/Release/binding');
 const assert = require('assert');
 
 const skipMessage =
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ if (!common.enoughTestMem) {
   console.log(skipMessage);
   return;
 }
-assert(typeof gc === 'function', 'Run this test with --expose-gc');
 
 // v8 fails silently if string length > v8::String::kMaxLength
 // v8::String::kMaxLength defined in v8.h
@@ -18,9 +17,6 @@ const kStringMaxLength = process.binding('buffer').kStringMaxLength;
 
 try {
   var buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(kStringMaxLength + 1);
-  // Try to allocate memory first then force gc so future allocations succeed.
-  Buffer.allocUnsafe(2 * kStringMaxLength);
-  gc();
 } catch (e) {
   // If the exception is not due to memory confinement then rethrow it.
   if (e.message !== 'Array buffer allocation failed') throw (e);
@@ -28,6 +24,12 @@ try {
   return;
 }
 
+// Ensure we have enough memory available for future allocations to succeed.
+if (!binding.ensureAllocation(2 * kStringMaxLength)) {
+  console.log(skipMessage);
+  return;
+}
+
 assert.throws(function() {
   buf.toString('binary');
 }, /"toString\(\)" failed/);
diff --git a/test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-hex.js b/test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-hex.js
similarity index 73%
rename from test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-hex.js
rename to test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-hex.js
index 0ec46fd686..f339f1ad5c 100644
--- a/test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-hex.js
+++ b/test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-hex.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 'use strict';
-// Flags: --expose-gc
 
-const common = require('../common');
+const common = require('../../common');
+const binding = require('./build/Release/binding');
 const assert = require('assert');
 
 const skipMessage =
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ if (!common.enoughTestMem) {
   console.log(skipMessage);
   return;
 }
-assert(typeof gc === 'function', 'Run this test with --expose-gc');
 
 // v8 fails silently if string length > v8::String::kMaxLength
 // v8::String::kMaxLength defined in v8.h
@@ -18,9 +17,6 @@ const kStringMaxLength = process.binding('buffer').kStringMaxLength;
 
 try {
   var buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(kStringMaxLength + 1);
-  // Try to allocate memory first then force gc so future allocations succeed.
-  Buffer.allocUnsafe(2 * kStringMaxLength);
-  gc();
 } catch (e) {
   // If the exception is not due to memory confinement then rethrow it.
   if (e.message !== 'Array buffer allocation failed') throw (e);
@@ -28,6 +24,12 @@ try {
   return;
 }
 
+// Ensure we have enough memory available for future allocations to succeed.
+if (!binding.ensureAllocation(2 * kStringMaxLength)) {
+  console.log(skipMessage);
+  return;
+}
+
 assert.throws(function() {
   buf.toString('hex');
 }, /"toString\(\)" failed/);
diff --git a/test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-utf8.js b/test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-utf8.js
similarity index 75%
rename from test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-utf8.js
rename to test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-utf8.js
index 4ea46a2cc2..5337836e2f 100644
--- a/test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-utf8.js
+++ b/test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-1-utf8.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 'use strict';
-// Flags: --expose-gc
 
-const common = require('../common');
+const common = require('../../common');
+const binding = require('./build/Release/binding');
 const assert = require('assert');
 
 const skipMessage =
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ if (!common.enoughTestMem) {
   console.log(skipMessage);
   return;
 }
-assert(typeof gc === 'function', 'Run this test with --expose-gc');
 
 // v8 fails silently if string length > v8::String::kMaxLength
 // v8::String::kMaxLength defined in v8.h
@@ -18,9 +17,6 @@ const kStringMaxLength = process.binding('buffer').kStringMaxLength;
 
 try {
   var buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(kStringMaxLength + 1);
-  // Try to allocate memory first then force gc so future allocations succeed.
-  Buffer.allocUnsafe(2 * kStringMaxLength);
-  gc();
 } catch (e) {
   // If the exception is not due to memory confinement then rethrow it.
   if (e.message !== 'Array buffer allocation failed') throw (e);
@@ -28,6 +24,12 @@ try {
   return;
 }
 
+// Ensure we have enough memory available for future allocations to succeed.
+if (!binding.ensureAllocation(2 * kStringMaxLength)) {
+  console.log(skipMessage);
+  return;
+}
+
 assert.throws(function() {
   buf.toString();
 }, /"toString\(\)" failed|Array buffer allocation failed/);
diff --git a/test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-2.js b/test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-2.js
similarity index 73%
rename from test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-2.js
rename to test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-2.js
index a75b5059b9..957a8f464f 100644
--- a/test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-2.js
+++ b/test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max-by-2.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 'use strict';
-// Flags: --expose-gc
 
-const common = require('../common');
+const common = require('../../common');
+const binding = require('./build/Release/binding');
 const assert = require('assert');
 
 const skipMessage =
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ if (!common.enoughTestMem) {
   console.log(skipMessage);
   return;
 }
-assert(typeof gc === 'function', 'Run this test with --expose-gc');
 
 // v8 fails silently if string length > v8::String::kMaxLength
 // v8::String::kMaxLength defined in v8.h
@@ -18,9 +17,6 @@ const kStringMaxLength = process.binding('buffer').kStringMaxLength;
 
 try {
   var buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(kStringMaxLength + 2);
-  // Try to allocate memory first then force gc so future allocations succeed.
-  Buffer.allocUnsafe(2 * kStringMaxLength);
-  gc();
 } catch (e) {
   // If the exception is not due to memory confinement then rethrow it.
   if (e.message !== 'Array buffer allocation failed') throw (e);
@@ -28,5 +24,11 @@ try {
   return;
 }
 
+// Ensure we have enough memory available for future allocations to succeed.
+if (!binding.ensureAllocation(2 * kStringMaxLength)) {
+  console.log(skipMessage);
+  return;
+}
+
 const maxString = buf.toString('utf16le');
 assert.equal(maxString.length, (kStringMaxLength + 2) / 2);
diff --git a/test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max.js b/test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max.js
similarity index 73%
rename from test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max.js
rename to test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max.js
index 51c36c5521..38a2edff25 100644
--- a/test/sequential/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max.js
+++ b/test/addons/stringbytes-external-exceed-max/test-stringbytes-external-exceed-max.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 'use strict';
-// Flags: --expose-gc
 
-const common = require('../common');
+const common = require('../../common');
+const binding = require('./build/Release/binding');
 const assert = require('assert');
 
 const skipMessage =
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ if (!common.enoughTestMem) {
   console.log(skipMessage);
   return;
 }
-assert(typeof gc === 'function', 'Run this test with --expose-gc');
 
 // v8 fails silently if string length > v8::String::kMaxLength
 // v8::String::kMaxLength defined in v8.h
@@ -18,9 +17,6 @@ const kStringMaxLength = process.binding('buffer').kStringMaxLength;
 
 try {
   var buf = Buffer.allocUnsafe(kStringMaxLength * 2 + 2);
-  // Try to allocate memory first then force gc so future allocations succeed.
-  Buffer.allocUnsafe(2 * kStringMaxLength);
-  gc();
 } catch (e) {
   // If the exception is not due to memory confinement then rethrow it.
   if (e.message !== 'Array buffer allocation failed') throw (e);
@@ -28,6 +24,12 @@ try {
   return;
 }
 
+// Ensure we have enough memory available for future allocations to succeed.
+if (!binding.ensureAllocation(2 * kStringMaxLength)) {
+  console.log(skipMessage);
+  return;
+}
+
 assert.throws(function() {
   buf.toString('utf16le');
 }, /"toString\(\)" failed/);