diff --git a/exercises/practice/spiral-matrix/test_spiral_matrix.c b/exercises/practice/spiral-matrix/test_spiral_matrix.c
index a3d8a593b..5d442dc2e 100644
--- a/exercises/practice/spiral-matrix/test_spiral_matrix.c
+++ b/exercises/practice/spiral-matrix/test_spiral_matrix.c
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ static void test_empty_spiral(void)
 
 static void test_trivial_spiral(void)
 {
+   TEST_IGNORE();   // delete this line to run test
+
    int expected_matrix[1][1] = {
       { 1 },
    };
@@ -53,6 +55,8 @@ static void test_trivial_spiral(void)
 
 static void test_spiral_of_size_2(void)
 {
+   TEST_IGNORE();
+
    int expected_matrix[2][2] = {
       { 1, 2 },
       { 4, 3 },
@@ -65,6 +69,8 @@ static void test_spiral_of_size_2(void)
 
 static void test_spiral_of_size_3(void)
 {
+   TEST_IGNORE();
+
    int expected_matrix[3][3] = {
       { 1, 2, 3 },
       { 8, 9, 4 },
@@ -78,6 +84,8 @@ static void test_spiral_of_size_3(void)
 
 static void test_spiral_of_size_4(void)
 {
+   TEST_IGNORE();
+
    int expected_matrix[4][4] = {
       { 1, 2, 3, 4 },
       { 12, 13, 14, 5 },
@@ -92,6 +100,8 @@ static void test_spiral_of_size_4(void)
 
 static void test_spiral_of_size_5(void)
 {
+   TEST_IGNORE();
+
    int expected_matrix[5][5] = {
       { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 },       //
       { 16, 17, 18, 19, 6 },   //