diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/mpi4py/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/mpi4py/default.nix
index 202ba506dfe1..42422d61a0d7 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/mpi4py/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/mpi4py/default.nix
@@ -54,6 +54,10 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
 
   __darwinAllowLocalNetworking = true;
 
+  # skip spawn related tests for openmpi implemention
+  # see https://github.com/mpi4py/mpi4py/issues/545#issuecomment-2343011460
+  env.MPI4PY_TEST_SPAWN = if mpi.pname == "openmpi" then 0 else 1;
+
   passthru = {
     inherit mpi;
   };