diff --git a/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py b/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py
index 9ab0f9bc52c80b..4cadefe40af71e 100644
--- a/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py
+++ b/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py
@@ -2694,8 +2694,16 @@ def test_make_pool(self):
 
     def test_terminate(self):
         # Simulate slow tasks which take "forever" to complete
+        sleep_time = support.LONG_TIMEOUT
+
+        if self.TYPE == 'threads':
+            # Thread pool workers can't be forced to quit, so if the first
+            # task starts early enough, we will end up waiting for it.
+            # Sleep for a shorter time, so the test doesn't block.
+            sleep_time = 1
+
         p = self.Pool(3)
-        args = [support.LONG_TIMEOUT for i in range(10_000)]
+        args = [sleep_time for i in range(10_000)]
         result = p.map_async(time.sleep, args, chunksize=1)
         p.terminate()
         p.join()