diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 7ea15d7f..5aa48822 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -5,10 +5,9 @@ rvm:
   - 2.2
   - 2.3
   - 2.4
-  - ruby-head
-  - rbx-3.69
+  - rbx-3.86
   - jruby-9.1.14.0
-  - jruby
+  - ruby-head
   - jruby-head
 
 install:
@@ -23,9 +22,7 @@ sudo: false
 matrix:
   allow_failures:
     - rvm: ruby-head
-    - rvm: jruby
     - rvm: jruby-head
-    - rvm: rbx-3.69
     - rvm: 2.4 # https://bugs.ruby-lang.org/issues/13537
 
 notifications:
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f40aef93..8792edfb 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@
 
 #### Features
 
+* Add Pry::Platform#known_engines, returns an Array of Ruby engines
+  (MRI, JRuby, Rubinius) that Pry is known to run on.
+
+See pull request [#1694](https://github.com/pry/pry/pull/1694).
+
 * Deprecate Pry::Command#text. Please use black(), white(), etc directly
   instead (as you would with helper functions from BaseHelpers and
   CommandHelpers)
@@ -50,6 +55,14 @@ See pull request [#1691](https://github.com/pry/pry/pull/1691).
 
 See pull request [#1674](https://github.com/pry/pry/pull/1674).
 
+
+#### Pry developers
+
+* Optionally skip a spec on specific Ruby engine(s) by providing `expect_failure: [:mri, :jruby]`
+  as a metadata Hash to the example group.
+
+See pull request [#1694](https://github.com/pry/pry/pull/1694).
+
 ### 0.11.0
 
 * Add alias 'whereami[?!]+' for 'whereami' command. ([#1597](https://github.com/pry/pry/pull/1597))
diff --git a/lib/pry/platform.rb b/lib/pry/platform.rb
index 5593d1a0..ea273888 100644
--- a/lib/pry/platform.rb
+++ b/lib/pry/platform.rb
@@ -90,4 +90,12 @@ module Pry::Platform
   def mri_2?
     !!(mri? and RUBY_VERSION =~ /\A2/)
   end
+
+  #
+  #  @return [Array<Symbol>]
+  #    Returns an Array of Ruby engines that Pry is known to run on.
+  #
+  def known_engines
+    [:jruby, :rbx, :mri]
+  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/commands/save_file_spec.rb b/spec/commands/save_file_spec.rb
index 8141e6c6..963380ab 100644
--- a/spec/commands/save_file_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/commands/save_file_spec.rb
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ describe "save-file" do
 
         @t.eval("save-file '#{path}' --to '#{@path}'")
 
-       
+
         expect(File.read(@path)).to eq(File.read(path))
       end
     end
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ describe "save-file" do
   end
 
   describe "saving commands" do
-    it 'should save a command to a file' do
+    it 'should save a command to a file', expect_failure: [:rbx] do
       @t.eval "save-file --to '#{@path}' show-source"
       cmd_source = Pry.config.commands["show-source"].source
       expect(File.read(@path)).to eq(cmd_source)
diff --git a/spec/commands/show_source_spec.rb b/spec/commands/show_source_spec.rb
index f0f19ec9..495caabf 100644
--- a/spec/commands/show_source_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/commands/show_source_spec.rb
@@ -623,13 +623,13 @@ describe "show-source" do
             end
 
             describe "when current context is a C object" do
-              it "should display a warning, and not monkey-patched definition" do
+              it "should display a warning, and not monkey-patched definition", expect_failure: [:rbx] do
                 out = pry_eval([1, 2, 3], 'show-source')
                 expect(out).not_to match(/doge/)
                 expect(out).to match(/warning/i)
               end
 
-              it "recommends to use the --all switch when other candidates are found" do
+              it "recommends to use the --all switch when other candidates are found", expect_failure: [:rbx] do
                 out = pry_eval([], 'show-source')
                 expect(out).to match(/'--all' switch/i)
               end
diff --git a/spec/helper.rb b/spec/helper.rb
index 97f5dfd1..1899da3d 100644
--- a/spec/helper.rb
+++ b/spec/helper.rb
@@ -42,6 +42,17 @@ RSpec.configure do |config|
   config.include Pry::Testable::Utility
   include Pry::Testable::Evalable
   include Pry::Testable::Variables
+
+  # Optionally skip a test on specific Ruby engine(s).
+  # Please use this feature sparingly! It is better that a feature works than not.
+  # Inapplicable features are OK.
+  config.before(:each) do |example|
+    Pry::Platform.known_engines.each do |engine|
+      example.metadata[:expect_failure].to_a.include?(engine) and
+      Pry::Platform.public_send(:"#{engine}?")                and
+      skip("This spec is failing or inapplicable on #{engine}.")
+    end
+  end
 end
 
 puts "Ruby v#{RUBY_VERSION} (#{defined?(RUBY_ENGINE) ? RUBY_ENGINE : "ruby"}), Pry v#{Pry::VERSION}, method_source v#{MethodSource::VERSION}, CodeRay v#{CodeRay::VERSION}, Pry::Slop v#{Pry::Slop::VERSION}"
diff --git a/spec/hooks_spec.rb b/spec/hooks_spec.rb
index 686b4736..be37f17e 100644
--- a/spec/hooks_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/hooks_spec.rb
@@ -175,13 +175,13 @@ describe Pry::Hooks do
   describe "getting hooks" do
     describe "get_hook" do
       it 'should return the correct requested hook' do
-        run = false
-        fun = false
-        @hooks.add_hook(:test_hook, :my_name) { run = true }
-        @hooks.add_hook(:test_hook, :my_name2) { fun = true }
+        run1 = false
+        run2 = false
+        @hooks.add_hook(:test_hook, :my_name) { run1 = true }
+        @hooks.add_hook(:test_hook, :my_name2) { run2 = true }
         @hooks.get_hook(:test_hook, :my_name).call
-        expect(run).to eq true
-        expect(fun).to eq false
+        expect(run1).to eq true
+        expect(run2).to eq false
       end
 
       it 'should return nil if hook does not exist' do
diff --git a/spec/pryrc_spec.rb b/spec/pryrc_spec.rb
index 9324b5de..fcf2d5d7 100644
--- a/spec/pryrc_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/pryrc_spec.rb
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ describe Pry do
       end
     end
 
-    it "should not load the pryrc if pryrc's directory permissions do not allow this" do
+    it "should not load the pryrc if pryrc's directory permissions do not allow this", expect_failure: [:rbx] do
       Dir.mktmpdir do |dir|
         File.chmod 0000, dir
         Pry::LOCAL_RC_FILE.replace File.join(dir, '.pryrc')