diff --git a/test/ruby/test_beginendblock.rb b/test/ruby/test_beginendblock.rb
index a4318493c1..d15f21060d 100644
--- a/test/ruby/test_beginendblock.rb
+++ b/test/ruby/test_beginendblock.rb
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ EOW
     assert_match(/e1/, out)
     assert_match(/e6/, out)
   ensure
-    th.kill if th.alive?
+    th.kill.join if th.alive?
   end
 
   def test_nested_at_exit