diff --git a/test/aaa_profiling/test_orm.py b/test/aaa_profiling/test_orm.py
index 3027d4a50c..3d32bb0117 100644
--- a/test/aaa_profiling/test_orm.py
+++ b/test/aaa_profiling/test_orm.py
@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ class MergeTest(_base.MappedTest):
 
         # preloading of collection took this down from 1728
         # to 1192 using sqlite3
-        @profiling.function_call_count(1192)
+        # the C extension took it back up to approx. 1257 (py2.6)
+        @profiling.function_call_count(1257, versions={'2.4':807})
         def go():
             p2 = sess2.merge(p1)
         go()