diff --git a/unittests/test_schedulers.py b/unittests/test_schedulers.py
index e00d6f1175..7d465f6482 100644
--- a/unittests/test_schedulers.py
+++ b/unittests/test_schedulers.py
@@ -483,7 +483,13 @@ def state(self):
 def assert_process_died(pid):
     try:
         os.kill(pid, 0)
-        pytest.fail('process %s is still alive' % pid)
+        if os.getpid() == 1:
+            # We are running in a container; so pid is likely a zombie; reap it
+            if os.waitpid(pid, os.WNOHANG)[0] == 0:
+                pytest.fail(f'process {pid} is still alive')
+        else:
+            pytest.fail(f'process {pid} is still alive')
+
     except (ProcessLookupError, PermissionError):
         pass