diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/mm/uffd-unit-tests.c b/tools/testing/selftests/mm/uffd-unit-tests.c
index 3db2296ac631..c8a3b1c7edff 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/mm/uffd-unit-tests.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/mm/uffd-unit-tests.c
@@ -241,6 +241,9 @@ static void *fork_event_consumer(void *data)
 	fork_event_args *args = data;
 	struct uffd_msg msg = { 0 };
 
+	/* Ready for parent thread to fork */
+	pthread_barrier_wait(&ready_for_fork);
+
 	/* Read until a full msg received */
 	while (uffd_read_msg(args->parent_uffd, &msg));
 
@@ -308,8 +311,12 @@ static int pagemap_test_fork(int uffd, bool with_event, bool test_pin)
 
 	/* Prepare a thread to resolve EVENT_FORK */
 	if (with_event) {
+		pthread_barrier_init(&ready_for_fork, NULL, 2);
 		if (pthread_create(&thread, NULL, fork_event_consumer, &args))
 			err("pthread_create()");
+		/* Wait for child thread to start before forking */
+		pthread_barrier_wait(&ready_for_fork);
+		pthread_barrier_destroy(&ready_for_fork);
 	}
 
 	child = fork();