diff --git a/ci/python-gate.libsonnet b/ci/python-gate.libsonnet
index 179f0df580..465c54dd38 100644
--- a/ci/python-gate.libsonnet
+++ b/ci/python-gate.libsonnet
@@ -467,6 +467,7 @@
             // logging
             ["mx"] + self.mx_parameters + self.dy + ["sversions"],
         ],
+        run+: [ ["sleep", "30m"] ],
         on_success+: [
             ["rm", "-rf", "graal_dumps"],
         ],
diff --git a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/__init__.py b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/__init__.py
index eebb0d6d18..c6bb22484d 100644
--- a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/__init__.py
@@ -78,8 +78,8 @@ def get_setuptools(setuptools='setuptools==67.6.1'):
         else:
             py_executable = setuptools_path / 'bin' / 'python3'
         extra_args = []
-        if sys.implementation.name == "graalpy" and not system_python and __graalpython__.is_bytecode_dsl_interpreter:
-            extra_args = ['--vm.Dpython.EnableBytecodeDSLInterpreter=true']
+        if sys.implementation.name == "graalpy" and not system_python and not __graalpython__.is_native:
+            extra_args += [f'--vm.Dpython.EnableBytecodeDSLInterpreter={str(__graalpython__.is_bytecode_dsl_interpreter).lower()}']
         subprocess.run([py_executable, *extra_args, "-m", "pip", "install", "--target", str(setuptools_path), setuptools], check=True)
         print('setuptools is installed in %s' % setuptools_path)
 
diff --git a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/cpyext/test_shutdown.py b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/cpyext/test_shutdown.py
index 111d06fb28..1c7a4fca16 100644
--- a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/cpyext/test_shutdown.py
+++ b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/cpyext/test_shutdown.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright (c) 2023, 2024, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2023, 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
 # DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
 #
 # The Universal Permissive License (UPL), Version 1.0
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@
 ARGS = []
 if sys.implementation.name == 'graalpy':
     ARGS = ['--experimental-options', '--python.EnableDebuggingBuiltins']
-    if not __graalpython__.is_native and __graalpython__.is_bytecode_dsl_interpreter:
-        ARGS += ['--vm.Dpython.EnableBytecodeDSLInterpreter=true']
+    if not __graalpython__.is_native:
+        ARGS += [f'--vm.Dpython.EnableBytecodeDSLInterpreter={str(__graalpython__.is_bytecode_dsl_interpreter).lower()}']
 COMMAND = [sys.executable, *ARGS, str(MODULE_PATH)]
 
 
diff --git a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_frame_tests.py b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_frame_tests.py
index 96f68b0030..88b51fff09 100644
--- a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_frame_tests.py
+++ b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_frame_tests.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 # SOFTWARE.
 import os
 import sys
-
+from tests import util
 
 # IMPORTANT: DO NOT MOVE!
 # This test checks that lineno works on frames,
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
 def test_lineno():
     assert sys._getframe(0).f_lineno == 47
 
-if not os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'): # Blocked by GR-61955
+if not util.IS_BYTECODE_DSL: # Blocked by GR-61955
     # IMPORTANT: DO NOT MOVE!
     def test_nested_lineno():
         def test_nested():
diff --git a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_generators.py b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_generators.py
index bec89de817..f37a8843dd 100644
--- a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_generators.py
+++ b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_generators.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 import sys
 import os
 import unittest
+from tests import util
 
 
 class ExceptionTest(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -557,7 +558,7 @@ def gen():
         assert f.f_globals is globals()
         assert f.f_locals == {'a': 1, 'b': 2, 'c': 3}
         # TODO GR-61955
-        if sys.implementation.name != "graalpy" or not __graalpython__.is_bytecode_dsl_interpreter:
+        if not util.IS_BYTECODE_DSL:
             assert f.f_lineno == gen.__code__.co_firstlineno + 5
     assert not g.gi_frame
 
@@ -591,7 +592,7 @@ def gen():
     assert f.f_globals is globals()
     assert f.f_locals == {'a': 1, 'b': 2}
     # TODO GR-61955
-    if sys.implementation.name != "graalpy" or not __graalpython__.is_bytecode_dsl_interpreter:
+    if not util.IS_BYTECODE_DSL:
         assert f.f_lineno == gen.__code__.co_firstlineno + 3
 
 
diff --git a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_pdb.py b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_pdb.py
index f66661927d..3028614d89 100644
--- a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_pdb.py
+++ b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_pdb.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 import doctest
 import sys
 import unittest
+from tests import util
 
 
 # Copied from test_doctest
@@ -69,8 +70,6 @@ def __exit__(self, *exc):
         if self.orig_trace:
             sys.settrace(self.orig_trace)
 
-
-@unittest.skipIf(os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: FrameSlotTypeException with reparsing")
 def doctest_pdb_locals():
     """
     Test that locals get synced after breakpoint
@@ -101,63 +100,61 @@ def doctest_pdb_locals():
     """
 
 
-@unittest.skipIf(os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: FrameSlotTypeException with reparsing")
-def doctest_pdb_locals_generator():
-    """
-    Test that locals get synced after breakpoint in a generator
-
-    >>> def test_function():
-    ...     a = 1
-    ...     import pdb; pdb.Pdb(nosigint=True, readrc=False).set_trace()
-    ...     a = 2
-    ...     yield
-
-    >>> with PdbTestInput([
-    ...     'p a',
-    ...     'next',
-    ...     'p a',
-    ...     'continue',
-    ... ]):
-    ...     next(test_function())
-    > <doctest tests.test_pdb.doctest_pdb_locals_generator[0]>(4)test_function()
-    -> a = 2
-    (Pdb) p a
-    1
-    (Pdb) next
-    > <doctest tests.test_pdb.doctest_pdb_locals_generator[0]>(5)test_function()
-    -> yield
-    (Pdb) p a
-    2
-    (Pdb) continue
-    """
-
-
-@unittest.skipIf(os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: FrameSlotTypeException with reparsing")
-def doctest_pdb_locals_sync_back():
-    """
-    Test that locals set by debugger get propagated back into the frame.
-
-    >>> def test_function():
-    ...     foo = 1
-    ...     import pdb; pdb.Pdb(nosigint=True, readrc=False).set_trace()
-    ...     return foo
-
-    >>> with PdbTestInput([
-    ...     'p foo',
-    ...     'foo = 5',
-    ...     'continue',
-    ... ]):
-    ...     print(test_function())
-    > <doctest tests.test_pdb.doctest_pdb_locals_sync_back[0]>(4)test_function()
-    -> return foo
-    (Pdb) p foo
-    1
-    (Pdb) foo = 5
-    (Pdb) continue
-    5
-    """
+if not util.IS_BYTECODE_DSL:
+    def doctest_pdb_locals_generator():
+        """
+        Test that locals get synced after breakpoint in a generator
+
+        >>> def test_function():
+        ...     a = 1
+        ...     import pdb; pdb.Pdb(nosigint=True, readrc=False).set_trace()
+        ...     a = 2
+        ...     yield
+
+        >>> with PdbTestInput([
+        ...     'p a',
+        ...     'next',
+        ...     'p a',
+        ...     'continue',
+        ... ]):
+        ...     next(test_function())
+        > <doctest tests.test_pdb.doctest_pdb_locals_generator[0]>(4)test_function()
+        -> a = 2
+        (Pdb) p a
+        1
+        (Pdb) next
+        > <doctest tests.test_pdb.doctest_pdb_locals_generator[0]>(5)test_function()
+        -> yield
+        (Pdb) p a
+        2
+        (Pdb) continue
+        """
+
+
+    def doctest_pdb_locals_sync_back():
+        """
+        Test that locals set by debugger get propagated back into the frame.
+
+        >>> def test_function():
+        ...     foo = 1
+        ...     import pdb; pdb.Pdb(nosigint=True, readrc=False).set_trace()
+        ...     return foo
+
+        >>> with PdbTestInput([
+        ...     'p foo',
+        ...     'foo = 5',
+        ...     'continue',
+        ... ]):
+        ...     print(test_function())
+        > <doctest tests.test_pdb.doctest_pdb_locals_sync_back[0]>(4)test_function()
+        -> return foo
+        (Pdb) p foo
+        1
+        (Pdb) foo = 5
+        (Pdb) continue
+        5
+        """
 
 
-@unittest.skipIf(os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: FrameSlotTypeException with reparsing")
 def test_run_doctests():
     doctest.testmod(sys.modules[__name__], raise_on_error=True)
diff --git a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_repl.py b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_repl.py
index d2860db5d1..05f1fce96f 100644
--- a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_repl.py
+++ b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_repl.py
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
 import sys
 import tempfile
 import unittest
+from tests import util
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from textwrap import dedent
 
@@ -191,7 +192,7 @@ def test_continuation():
         '''))
 
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: <interactive> vs <module> in traceback")
+    @util.skipIfBytecodeDSL("TODO: <interactive> vs <module> in traceback")
     def test_exceptions():
         validate_repl(dedent("""\
             >>> 1 / 0
diff --git a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_sys_settrace.py b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_sys_settrace.py
index 9f5f14af92..6998f0dc44 100644
--- a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_sys_settrace.py
+++ b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_sys_settrace.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 import difflib
 import sys
 import signal
-
+from tests import util
 import builtins
 
 
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ def test_case(self):
     return test_case
 
 
-@unittest.skipIf(os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: FrameSlotTypeException with reparsing")
+@util.skipIfBytecodeDSL("TODO: FrameSlotTypeException with reparsing")
 class TraceTests(unittest.TestCase):
     def trace(self, frame, event, arg):
         code = frame.f_code
@@ -254,8 +254,8 @@ def trace_function_with_offset(self, func, offset_func):
         return offset_func.__code__.co_firstlineno - self.first_line
 
 class TraceTestsStmtWith(TracingEventsUnitTest):
-    @unittest.skipIf(not os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: Correct break in with statement manual interpreter tracing.")
-    @unittest.skipIf(os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: Breaking from within with: __exit__ sometimes won't get traced.")
+    @util.skipUnlessBytecodeDSL("Incorrect break in with statement tracing.")
+    @util.skipIfBytecodeDSL("TODO: Breaking from within with: __exit__ sometimes won't get traced.")
     def test_09_break_in_with(self):
         class C:
             def __enter__(self):
@@ -345,8 +345,8 @@ def func():
 
         self.assert_events(self.events, events)
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(not os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: Correct break in with statement manual interpreter tracing.")
-    @unittest.skipIf(os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: Breaking from within with: __exit__ sometimes won't get traced.")
+    @util.skipUnlessBytecodeDSL("Incorrect break in with statement tracing.")
+    @util.skipIfBytecodeDSL("TODO: Breaking from within with: __exit__ sometimes won't get traced.")
     def test_11_break_in_with_nested(self):
         class C:
             def __enter__(self):
@@ -400,7 +400,8 @@ def func():
 
         self.assert_events(self.events, events)
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(not os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: Correct reraise tracing for manual interpreter.")
+    @util.skipUnlessBytecodeDSL("Incorrect break in with statement tracing.")
+    @util.skipIfBytecodeDSL("TODO: Breaking from within with: __exit__ sometimes won't get traced.")
     def test_12_reraise(self):
         def func():
             try:
@@ -730,7 +731,7 @@ def func():
         self.assert_events(self.events, events)
 
 class ExceptStarTraceTest(TracingEventsUnitTest):
-    @unittest.skipIf(not os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: Implement try-except* in manual interpreter.")
+    @util.skipUnlessBytecodeDSL("try-except* not implemented")
     def test_01_except_star_with_name(self):
         def func():
             try:
@@ -760,7 +761,7 @@ def func():
 
         self.assert_events(self.events, events)
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(not os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: Implement try-except* in manual interpreter.")
+    @util.skipUnlessBytecodeDSL("try-except* not implemented")
     def test_02_except_star_multi_with_name(self):
         def func():
             try:
@@ -797,8 +798,8 @@ def func():
 
         self.assert_events(self.events, events)
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(not os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: Implement try-except* in manual interpreter.")
-    @unittest.skipIf(os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: Fix return in finally.")
+    @util.skipUnlessBytecodeDSL("try-except* not implemented")
+    @util.skipIfBytecodeDSL("TODO: Fix return in finally.")
     def test_03_except_star_with_finally(self):
         def func():
             try:
@@ -831,8 +832,8 @@ def func():
 
         self.assert_events(self.events, events)
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(not os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: Implement try-except* in manual interpreter.")
-    @unittest.skipIf(os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: Fix return in finally.")
+    @util.skipUnlessBytecodeDSL("try-except* not implemented")
+    @util.skipIfBytecodeDSL("TODO: Fix return in finally.")
     def test_04_test_try_except_star_with_wrong_type(self):
         def func():
             try:
@@ -860,7 +861,7 @@ def func():
 
         self.assert_events(self.events, events)
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(not os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: Implement try-except* in manual interpreter.")
+    @util.skipUnlessBytecodeDSL("try-except* not implemented")
     def test_05_if_false_in_try_except_star(self):
         def func():
             try:
@@ -880,7 +881,7 @@ def func():
 
         self.assert_events(self.events, events)
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(not os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: Implement try-except* in manual interpreter.")
+    @util.skipUnlessBytecodeDSL("try-except* not implemented")
     @unittest.skipIf(sys.implementation.name == "cpython", "TODO: seems broken on CPython")
     def test_06_try_in_try_with_exception(self):
         def func():
@@ -912,7 +913,7 @@ def func():
 
         self.assert_events(self.events, events)
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(True, "TODO: Isn't even tagged from CPython tests.")
+    @unittest.skip("TODO: Isn't even tagged from CPython tests.")
     def test_07_tracing_exception_raised_in_with(self):
         class NullCtx:
             def __enter__(self):
@@ -949,7 +950,7 @@ def func():
 
         self.assert_events(self.events, events)
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(not os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: Implement try-except* in manual interpreter.")
+    @util.skipUnlessBytecodeDSL("try-except* not implemented")
     def test_08_try_except_star_no_exception(self):
         def func():
             try:
@@ -983,7 +984,7 @@ def func():
 
         self.assert_events(self.events, events)
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(not os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: Implement try-except* in manual interpreter.")
+    @util.skipUnlessBytecodeDSL("try-except* not implemented")
     def test_09_try_except_star_named_no_exception(self):
         def func():
             try:
@@ -1008,7 +1009,7 @@ def func():
 
         self.assert_events(self.events, events)
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(not os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: Implement try-except* in manual interpreter.")
+    @util.skipUnlessBytecodeDSL("try-except* not implemented")
     def test_10_try_except_star_exception_caught(self):
         def func():
             try:
@@ -1035,7 +1036,7 @@ def func():
 
         self.assert_events(self.events, events)
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(not os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: Implement try-except* in manual interpreter.")
+    @util.skipUnlessBytecodeDSL("try-except* not implemented")
     def test_11_try_except_star_named_exception_caught(self):
         def func():
             try:
@@ -1062,7 +1063,7 @@ def func():
 
         self.assert_events(self.events, events)
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(not os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: Implement try-except* in manual interpreter.")
+    @util.skipUnlessBytecodeDSL("try-except* not implemented")
     def test_12_try_except_star_exception_not_caught(self):
         def func():
             try:
@@ -1089,7 +1090,7 @@ def func():
 
         self.assert_events(self.events, events)
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(not os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: Implement try-except* in manual interpreter.")
+    @util.skipUnlessBytecodeDSL("try-except* not implemented")
     def test_13_try_except_star_named_exception_not_caught(self):
         def func():
             try:
@@ -1116,7 +1117,7 @@ def func():
 
         self.assert_events(self.events, events)
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(not os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: Implement try-except* in manual interpreter.")
+    @util.skipUnlessBytecodeDSL("try-except* not implemented")
     def test_14_try_except_star_nested(self):
         def func():
             try:
diff --git a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_venv.py b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_venv.py
index b1f6c1e63d..87a4394767 100644
--- a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_venv.py
+++ b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/test_venv.py
@@ -83,12 +83,14 @@ def test_venv_launcher(self):
             assert f"Hello {tmpfile}" in out, out
             assert f'Original "{sys.executable}"' in out, out
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: issue with passing Bytecode DSL flag to subprocesses")
     def test_create_and_use_basic_venv(self):
         run = None
         run_output = ''
         try:
-            subprocess.check_output([sys.executable, "-m", "venv", self.env_dir, "--without-pip"], stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
+            extra_args = []
+            if sys.implementation.name == "graalpy":
+                extra_args = [f'--vm.Dpython.EnableBytecodeDSLInterpreter={repr(__graalpython__.is_bytecode_dsl_interpreter).lower()}']
+            subprocess.check_output([sys.executable] + extra_args + ["-m", "venv", self.env_dir, "--without-pip"], stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
             run = subprocess.getoutput(f"{self.env_dir}/{BINDIR}/python{EXESUF} -m site")
         except subprocess.CalledProcessError as err:
             if err.output:
@@ -98,12 +100,14 @@ def test_create_and_use_basic_venv(self):
         if sys.platform != 'win32':
             assert self.env_dir in run, run
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(os.environ.get('BYTECODE_DSL_INTERPRETER'), "TODO: issue with passing Bytecode DSL flag to subprocesses")
     def test_create_and_use_venv_with_pip(self):
         run = None
         msg = ''
         try:
-            subprocess.check_output([sys.executable, "-m", "venv", self.env_dir2], stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
+            extra_args = []
+            if sys.implementation.name == "graalpy":
+                extra_args = [f'--vm.Dpython.EnableBytecodeDSLInterpreter={repr(__graalpython__.is_bytecode_dsl_interpreter).lower()}']
+            subprocess.check_output([sys.executable] + extra_args + ["-m", "venv", self.env_dir2], stderr=subprocess.STDOUT)
             run = subprocess.getoutput(f"{self.env_dir2}/{BINDIR}/python{EXESUF} -m pip list")
         except subprocess.CalledProcessError as err:
             if err.output:
diff --git a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/util.py b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/util.py
index 07ce36ae5c..b28238c01b 100644
--- a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/util.py
+++ b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python.test/src/tests/util.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright (c) 2024, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2024, 2025, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
 # DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
 #
 # The Universal Permissive License (UPL), Version 1.0
@@ -37,6 +37,24 @@
 # OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
 # SOFTWARE.
 import sys
+import unittest
+
+IS_BYTECODE_DSL = sys.implementation.name == 'graalpy' and __graalpython__.is_bytecode_dsl_interpreter
+
+def skipIfBytecodeDSL(reason=''):
+    def wrapper(test):
+        if IS_BYTECODE_DSL:
+            return unittest.skip(f"Skipped on Bytecode DSL interpreter. {reason}")(test)
+        return test
+    return wrapper
+
+
+def skipUnlessBytecodeDSL(reason=''):
+    def wrapper(test):
+        if sys.implementation.name == 'graalpy' and not __graalpython__.is_bytecode_dsl_interpreter:
+            return unittest.skip(f"Skipped on manual interpreter. {reason}")(test)
+        return test
+    return wrapper
 
 
 def storage_to_native(s):
diff --git a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python/src/com/oracle/graal/python/nodes/bytecode_dsl/PBytecodeDSLRootNode.java b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python/src/com/oracle/graal/python/nodes/bytecode_dsl/PBytecodeDSLRootNode.java
index 5c1c55fa17..f2cff89968 100644
--- a/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python/src/com/oracle/graal/python/nodes/bytecode_dsl/PBytecodeDSLRootNode.java
+++ b/graalpython/com.oracle.graal.python/src/com/oracle/graal/python/nodes/bytecode_dsl/PBytecodeDSLRootNode.java
@@ -3607,11 +3607,10 @@ public static Object doObject(VirtualFrame frame, LocalAccessor accessor, int in
         @Specialization(replaces = "doObject")
         public static Object doObjectOrUnbound(VirtualFrame frame, LocalAccessor accessor, int index,
                         @Bind BytecodeNode bytecodeNode) {
-            try {
-                return accessor.getObject(bytecodeNode, frame);
-            } catch (FrameSlotTypeException e) {
+            if (accessor.isCleared(bytecodeNode, frame)) {
                 throw raiseUnbound(bytecodeNode, index);
             }
+            return accessor.getObject(bytecodeNode, frame);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/mx.graalpython/mx_graalpython.py b/mx.graalpython/mx_graalpython.py
index 95982116eb..1d777f4bcf 100644
--- a/mx.graalpython/mx_graalpython.py
+++ b/mx.graalpython/mx_graalpython.py
@@ -1423,7 +1423,7 @@ def graalpython_gate_runner(_, tasks):
         if task:
             run_python_unittests(
                 graalpy_standalone_jvm(),
-                nonZeroIsFatal=nonZeroIsFatal,
+                nonZeroIsFatal=False,
                 report=report(),
                 parallel=6,
             )