diff --git a/Lib/test/test_socketserver.py b/Lib/test/test_socketserver.py
index 6682d7165bd..0abd7ba7b71 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_socketserver.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_socketserver.py
@@ -212,6 +212,7 @@ def test_main():
         # If the import lock is held, the threads will hang.
         raise TestSkipped("can't run when import lock is held")
 
+    reap_children()
     try:
         testall()
     finally: