diff --git a/scripts/external.test b/scripts/external.test
index 96a11f0bd..95422242e 100755
--- a/scripts/external.test
+++ b/scripts/external.test
@@ -14,8 +14,14 @@ if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
     # cloudflare seems to change CAs quickly, disabled by default
     if test -n "$WOLFSSL_EXTERNAL_TEST"; then
 
-	if ./examples/client/client '-#' | fgrep -q -e ' -DWOLFSSL_SNIFFER '; then
-	    echo 'skipping WOLFSSL_EXTERNAL_TEST because WOLFSSL_SNIFFER configuration of build is incompatible.'
+	BUILD_FLAGS="$(./examples/client/client '-#')"
+	if echo "$BUILD_FLAGS" | fgrep -q -e ' -DWOLFSSL_SNIFFER '; then
+	    echo 'skipping WOLFSSL_EXTERNAL_TEST because -DWOLFSSL_SNIFFER configuration of build is incompatible.'
+	    exit 0
+	fi
+
+	if echo "$BUILD_FLAGS" | fgrep -v -q -e ' -DHAVE_ECC '; then
+	    echo 'skipping WOLFSSL_EXTERNAL_TEST because -UHAVE_ECC configuration of build is incompatible.'
 	    exit 0
 	fi