diff --git a/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py b/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py
index ba0659a349808ef..827f1b6603050a6 100644
--- a/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py
+++ b/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py
@@ -972,7 +972,9 @@ def check_forkserver_death(self, signum):
         self.assertEqual(proc2.exitcode, 0)
 
         proc.join()
-        self.assertTrue(evt.is_set())
+        # After SIGKILL, join() can return (exitcode 255) as soon as the
+        # status pipe is closed, before the orphaned child has run.
+        self.assertTrue(evt.wait(support.SHORT_TIMEOUT))
         self.assertIn(proc.exitcode, (0, 255))
 
     def test_forkserver_sigint(self):