diff --git a/src/cmd/ksh93/tests/variables.sh b/src/cmd/ksh93/tests/variables.sh
index 45aa0895c..45a5defde 100755
--- a/src/cmd/ksh93/tests/variables.sh
+++ b/src/cmd/ksh93/tests/variables.sh
@@ -34,46 +34,60 @@ fi
 # When the $RANDOM variable is used in a forked subshell, it shouldn't
 # use the same pseudorandom seed as the main shell.
 # https://github.com/ksh93/ksh/issues/285
+# These tests sometimes fail as duplicate numbers can occur randomly, so try up to $N times.
+integer N=3 i rand1 rand2
 RANDOM=123
 function rand_print {
 	ulimit -t unlimited 2> /dev/null
 	print $RANDOM
 }
-integer rand1=$(rand_print)
-integer rand2=$(rand_print)
+for((i=0; i<N; i++))
+do	rand1=$(rand_print)
+	rand2=$(rand_print)
+	((rand1 != rand2)) && break
+done
 (( rand1 == rand2 )) && err_exit "Test 1: \$RANDOM seed in subshell doesn't change" \
 	"(both results are $rand1)"
 # Make sure we're actually using a different pseudorandom seed
-integer rand1=$(
-	ulimit -t unlimited 2> /dev/null
-	test $RANDOM
-	print $RANDOM
-)
-integer rand2=${ print $RANDOM ;}
+for((i=0; i<N; i++))
+do	rand1=$(
+		ulimit -t unlimited 2> /dev/null
+		test $RANDOM
+		print $RANDOM
+	)
+	rand2=${ print $RANDOM ;}
+	((rand1 != rand2)) && break
+done
 (( rand1 == rand2 )) && err_exit "Test 2: \$RANDOM seed in subshell doesn't change" \
 	"(both results are $rand1)"
 # $RANDOM should be reseeded when the final command is inside of a subshell
-rand1=$($SHELL -c 'RANDOM=1; (echo $RANDOM)')
-rand2=$($SHELL -c 'RANDOM=1; (echo $RANDOM)')
+for((i=0; i<N; i++))
+do	rand1=$("$SHELL" -c 'RANDOM=1; (echo $RANDOM)')
+	rand2=$("$SHELL" -c 'RANDOM=1; (echo $RANDOM)')
+	((rand1 != rand2)) && break
+done
 (( rand1 == rand2 )) && err_exit "Test 3: \$RANDOM seed in subshell doesn't change" \
 	"(both results are $rand1)"
 # $RANDOM should be reseeded for the ( simple_command & ) optimization
-( echo $RANDOM & ) >r1
-( echo $RANDOM & ) >r2
-integer giveup=0
-trap '((giveup++))' USR1
-(sleep 2; kill -s USR1 $$) &
-while	[[ ! -s r1 || ! -s r2 ]]
-do	((giveup)) && break
+for((i=0; i<N; i++))
+do	( echo $RANDOM & ) >|r1
+	( echo $RANDOM & ) >|r2
+	integer giveup=0
+	trap '((giveup++))' USR1
+	(sleep 2; kill -s USR1 $$) &
+	while	[[ ! -s r1 || ! -s r2 ]]
+	do	((giveup)) && break
+	done
+	if	((giveup))
+	then	err_exit "Test 4: ( echo $RANDOM & ) does not write output"
+	fi
+	kill $! 2>/dev/null
+	trap - USR1
+	unset giveup
+	[[ $(<r1) != "$(<r2)" ]] && break
 done
-if	((giveup))
-then	err_exit "Test 4: ( echo $RANDOM & ) does not write output"
-else	[[ $(<r1) == "$(<r2)" ]] && err_exit "Test 4: \$RANDOM seed in ( simple_command & ) doesn't change" \
-		"(both results are $(printf %q "$(<r1)"))"
-fi
-kill $! 2>/dev/null
-trap - USR1
-unset giveup
+[[ $(<r1) == "$(<r2)" ]] && err_exit "Test 4: \$RANDOM seed in ( simple_command & ) doesn't change" \
+	"(both results are $(printf %q "$(<r1)"))"
 # Virtual subshells should not influence the parent shell's RANDOM sequence
 RANDOM=456
 exp="$RANDOM $RANDOM $RANDOM $RANDOM $RANDOM"
@@ -85,6 +99,7 @@ do	: $( : $RANDOM $RANDOM $RANDOM )
 done
 [[ $got == "$exp" ]] || err_exit 'Using $RANDOM in subshell influences reproducible sequence in parent environment' \
 	"(expected $(printf %q "$exp"), got $(printf %q "$got"))"
+unset N i rand1 rand2
 
 # SECONDS
 float secElapsed=0.0 secSleep=0.001