diff --git a/test/ruby/test_thread.rb b/test/ruby/test_thread.rb
index ba2c5b8e7c9e33..cdb7309fb7d8d6 100644
--- a/test/ruby/test_thread.rb
+++ b/test/ruby/test_thread.rb
@@ -29,13 +29,18 @@ def teardown
   end
 
   def test_inspect
+    m = Thread::Mutex.new
+    m.lock
     line = __LINE__+1
-    th = Module.new {break module_eval("class C\u{30b9 30ec 30c3 30c9} < Thread; self; end")}.start{}
+    th = Module.new {break module_eval("class C\u{30b9 30ec 30c3 30c9} < Thread; self; end")}.start do
+      m.synchronize {}
+    end
     s = th.inspect
     assert_include(s, "::C\u{30b9 30ec 30c3 30c9}:")
     assert_include(s, " #{__FILE__}:#{line} ")
     assert_equal(s, th.to_s)
   ensure
+    m.unlock
     th.join
   end