diff --git a/testing/test_runner.py b/testing/test_runner.py
index ae129d06d..91f7d2700 100644
--- a/testing/test_runner.py
+++ b/testing/test_runner.py
@@ -738,6 +738,22 @@ def test_importorskip_module_level(testdir):
     result.stdout.fnmatch_lines(["*collected 0 items / 1 skipped*"])
 
 
+def test_importorskip_custom_reason(testdir):
+    """make sure custom reasons are used"""
+    testdir.makepyfile(
+        """
+        import pytest
+        foobarbaz = pytest.importorskip("foobarbaz2", reason="just because")
+
+        def test_foo():
+            pass
+    """
+    )
+    result = testdir.runpytest("-ra")
+    result.stdout.fnmatch_lines(["*just because*"])
+    result.stdout.fnmatch_lines(["*collected 0 items / 1 skipped*"])
+
+
 def test_pytest_cmdline_main(testdir):
     p = testdir.makepyfile(
         """