diff --git a/pandas/tests/extension/json/test_json.py b/pandas/tests/extension/json/test_json.py
index 2b6174be2ca0e..f1e8e82d23691 100644
--- a/pandas/tests/extension/json/test_json.py
+++ b/pandas/tests/extension/json/test_json.py
@@ -267,7 +267,11 @@ def test_combine_le(self, data_repeated):
     def test_combine_add(self, data_repeated):
         super().test_combine_add(data_repeated)
 
-    @pytest.mark.xfail(reason="combine for JSONArray not supported")
+    @pytest.mark.xfail(
+        reason="combine for JSONArray not supported - "
+        "may pass depending on random data",
+        strict=False,
+    )
     def test_combine_first(self, data):
         super().test_combine_first(data)