diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 3dd4478ea8b..97e0aa48d1d 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -319,6 +319,8 @@ def mapdl(request, tmpdir_factory):
         override=True,
         run_location=run_path,
         cleanup_on_exit=cleanup,
+        license_server_check=False,
+        additional_switches="-smp",
     )
     mapdl._show_matplotlib_figures = False  # CI: don't show matplotlib figures