diff --git a/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py b/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py
index 95ef18958e6378..a5c62b9ea645e7 100644
--- a/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py
+++ b/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py
@@ -2704,6 +2704,7 @@ def test_terminate(self):
         p = self.Pool(3)
         args = [sleep_time for i in range(10_000)]
         result = p.map_async(time.sleep, args, chunksize=1)
+        time.sleep(0.2)  # give some tasks a chance to start
         p.terminate()
         p.join()