diff --git a/test/runtime/sigchld.c b/test/runtime/sigchld.c
index ace47d97de..aa6209e2fd 100644
--- a/test/runtime/sigchld.c
+++ b/test/runtime/sigchld.c
@@ -43,6 +43,11 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     pid_t pid, ret;
     int status = -1;
 
+#if OMPI_ENABLE_PROGRESS_THREADS && OMPI_THREADS_HAVE_DIFFERENT_PIDS
+    printf("test not properly configured when threads have different pids\n");
+    return 77;
+#endif
+
     orte_init();
 
     pid = fork();