diff --git a/go/test/endtoend/vtgate/queries/vexplain/vexplain_test.go b/go/test/endtoend/vtgate/queries/vexplain/vexplain_test.go
index ed43d57b578..2fd39fb0464 100644
--- a/go/test/endtoend/vtgate/queries/vexplain/vexplain_test.go
+++ b/go/test/endtoend/vtgate/queries/vexplain/vexplain_test.go
@@ -53,6 +53,11 @@ func start(t *testing.T) (*mysql.Conn, func()) {
 }
 
 func TestVtGateVExplain(t *testing.T) {
+	if !utils.BinaryIsAtLeastAtVersion(16, "vtgate") {
+		t.Log("test requires version >= 16, skipping")
+		return
+	}
+
 	conn, closer := start(t)
 	defer closer()
 
@@ -136,6 +141,11 @@ func TestVtGateVExplain(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestVExplainPlan(t *testing.T) {
+	if !utils.BinaryIsAtLeastAtVersion(16, "vtgate") {
+		t.Log("test requires version >= 16, skipping")
+		return
+	}
+
 	conn, closer := start(t)
 	defer closer()
 
@@ -145,6 +155,11 @@ func TestVExplainPlan(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestVExplainAll(t *testing.T) {
+	if !utils.BinaryIsAtLeastAtVersion(16, "vtgate") {
+		t.Log("test requires version >= 16, skipping")
+		return
+	}
+
 	conn, closer := start(t)
 	defer closer()
 
diff --git a/go/test/endtoend/vtgate/schematracker/sharded/st_sharded_test.go b/go/test/endtoend/vtgate/schematracker/sharded/st_sharded_test.go
index 8f8050bebe1..7f560071d8b 100644
--- a/go/test/endtoend/vtgate/schematracker/sharded/st_sharded_test.go
+++ b/go/test/endtoend/vtgate/schematracker/sharded/st_sharded_test.go
@@ -64,6 +64,12 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 			return 1
 		}
 
+		// This test fails on slack-15.0, but we don't use schema tracking. Skip it.
+		if vtgateVer < 16 || vttabletVer < 16 {
+			fmt.Println("test requires version >= 16, skipping")
+			return 0
+		}
+
 		// For upgrade/downgrade tests.
 		if vtgateVer < 17 || vttabletVer < 17 {
 			// Then only the default sidecarDBName is supported.
diff --git a/go/test/endtoend/vtgate/schematracker/unsharded/st_unsharded_test.go b/go/test/endtoend/vtgate/schematracker/unsharded/st_unsharded_test.go
index 257dd7238f3..7258d715d09 100644
--- a/go/test/endtoend/vtgate/schematracker/unsharded/st_unsharded_test.go
+++ b/go/test/endtoend/vtgate/schematracker/unsharded/st_unsharded_test.go
@@ -65,6 +65,12 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 			return 1
 		}
 
+		// This test fails on slack-15.0, but we don't use schema tracking. Skip it.
+		if vtgateVer < 16 || vttabletVer < 16 {
+			fmt.Println("test requires version >= 16, skipping")
+			return 0
+		}
+
 		// For upgrade/downgrade tests.
 		if vtgateVer < 17 || vttabletVer < 17 {
 			// Then only the default sidecarDBName is supported.