diff --git a/samples/embedder/BUILD.gn b/samples/embedder/BUILD.gn
index 27482072534..4e93d215b6a 100644
--- a/samples/embedder/BUILD.gn
+++ b/samples/embedder/BUILD.gn
@@ -15,22 +15,30 @@ group("all") {
 
 group("aot") {
   deps = [
-    ":run_futures_aot",
     ":run_main_aot",
     ":run_timer_aot",
     ":run_timer_async_aot",
     ":run_two_programs_aot",
   ]
+
+  # FFI can't execute on the VM's simulator
+  if (dart_target_arch == host_cpu) {
+    deps += [ ":run_futures_aot" ]
+  }
 }
 
 group("kernel") {
   deps = [
-    ":run_futures_kernel",
     ":run_main_kernel",
     ":run_timer_async_kernel",
     ":run_timer_kernel",
     ":run_two_programs_kernel",
   ]
+
+  # FFI can't execute on the VM's simulator
+  if (dart_target_arch == host_cpu) {
+    deps += [ ":run_futures_kernel" ]
+  }
 }
 
 # Generates a pair of executables for kernel and AOT snapshots.
@@ -153,11 +161,14 @@ snapshots("timer") {
   main_dart = "timer.dart"
 }
 
-snapshots("futures") {
-  main_dart = "futures.dart"
-}
+# FFI can't execute on the VM's simulator
+if (dart_target_arch == host_cpu) {
+  snapshots("futures") {
+    main_dart = "futures.dart"
+  }
 
-sample("run_futures") {
-  sources = [ "run_futures.cc" ]
-  snapshots = [ ":futures" ]
+  sample("run_futures") {
+    sources = [ "run_futures.cc" ]
+    snapshots = [ ":futures" ]
+  }
 }
diff --git a/tests/standalone/embedder_samples_test.dart b/tests/standalone/embedder_samples_test.dart
index eeff1382d4a..40d9009d8b0 100644
--- a/tests/standalone/embedder_samples_test.dart
+++ b/tests/standalone/embedder_samples_test.dart
@@ -44,9 +44,10 @@ void main() {
   checkSample('$out/run_timer_async_kernel', [
     '$out/gen/timer_kernel.dart.snapshot',
   ]);
+  // FFI samples aren't built on some platforms.
   checkSample('$out/run_futures_kernel', [
     '$out/gen/futures_kernel.dart.snapshot',
-  ]);
+  ], skipIfNotBuilt: true);
 
   // AOT Samples aren't built on some platforms.
   checkSample('$out/run_main_aot', [