diff --git a/Lib/test/test_curses.py b/Lib/test/test_curses.py
index 5015b053ff29fa..5fe2850460717b 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_curses.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_curses.py
@@ -80,6 +80,12 @@ def wrapped(self, *args, **kwargs):
 term = os.environ.get('TERM')
 SHORT_MAX = 0x7fff
 
+# ncurses before 6.5 can crash on repeated newterm().  Fall back to initscr()
+# and skip the tests that need several screens.
+_ncurses_version = getattr(curses, 'ncurses_version', None)
+BROKEN_NEWTERM = _ncurses_version is not None and _ncurses_version < (6, 5)
+USE_NEWTERM = hasattr(curses, 'newterm') and not BROKEN_NEWTERM
+
 # newterm() is used when available (it reports errors instead of exiting), but
 # initscr() is still the fallback, and an unusable $TERM has no terminal to
 # drive either way.
@@ -139,7 +145,7 @@ def setUp(self):
             sys.stderr.flush()
             sys.stdout.flush()
             print(file=self.output, flush=True)
-        if hasattr(curses, 'newterm'):
+        if USE_NEWTERM:
             # Use newterm() rather than initscr(): it reports errors instead of
             # exiting, and gives each test a fresh screen, which also lets
             # ScreenTests run newterm()/set_term() in the same process.
@@ -157,7 +163,11 @@ def setUp(self):
             self.addCleanup(setattr, self, 'screen', None)
             self.addCleanup(setattr, self, 'stdscr', None)
         else:
+            # Tests share one initscr() screen; clear the rendition and
+            # background so a previous test's does not bleed in.
             self.stdscr = curses.initscr()
+            self.stdscr.attrset(curses.A_NORMAL)
+            self.stdscr.bkgdset(' ')
         if self.isatty:
             curses.savetty()
             self.addCleanup(curses.endwin)
@@ -2026,6 +2036,7 @@ def test_use_window(self):
 
     @unittest.skipUnless(hasattr(curses.screen, 'use'),
                          'requires screen.use()')
+    @unittest.skipUnless(USE_NEWTERM, 'no screen object without newterm()')
     def test_use_screen(self):
         screen = self.screen
         self.assertEqual(
@@ -2913,6 +2924,7 @@ def stop_reader():
 
 
 @unittest.skipUnless(hasattr(curses, 'newterm'), 'requires curses.newterm()')
+@unittest.skipIf(BROKEN_NEWTERM, 'ncurses < 6.5 mishandles repeated newterm()')
 @unittest.skipIf(not term or term == 'unknown',
                  f"$TERM={term!r}, newterm() may not work")
 @unittest.skipIf(sys.platform == "cygwin",
@@ -2994,6 +3006,7 @@ def test_disallow_instantiation(self):
 
 @unittest.skipUnless(hasattr(curses, 'slk_init'), 'requires curses.slk_init()')
 @unittest.skipUnless(hasattr(curses, 'newterm'), 'requires curses.newterm()')
+@unittest.skipIf(BROKEN_NEWTERM, 'ncurses < 6.5 mishandles repeated newterm()')
 @unittest.skipIf(not term or term == 'unknown',
                  f"$TERM={term!r}, newterm() may not work")
 @unittest.skipIf(sys.platform == "cygwin",