diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 3cef42c24f4e1a5927c4cc61a32b3067a39eb2ff..18216dc3f01ee01b7fbf4fc77d0508e5ca9a9d00 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -116,6 +116,9 @@ jobs:
                     # can't turn off MPI in mirgecom
                     export CONDA_ENVIRONMENT=conda-env.yml
                     echo "- mpi4py" >> "$CONDA_ENVIRONMENT"
+                    
+                    # https://github.com/inducer/grudge/issues/211
+                    export CISUPPORT_PARALLEL_PYTEST=no
                 else
                     sed -i "/mpi4py/ d" requirements.txt
                 fi