diff --git a/.gitlab-ci/meson-build.sh b/.gitlab-ci/meson-build.sh
index c2ca0a1e..56b1abcc 100755
--- a/.gitlab-ci/meson-build.sh
+++ b/.gitlab-ci/meson-build.sh
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ if [[ -z "$CI_JOB_ID" ]] || [[ -z "$CI_JOB_NAME" ]]; then
 fi
 
 if [[ -n "$FDO_CI_CONCURRENT" ]]; then
-	NINJA_ARGS="-j${FDO_CI_CONCURRENT} $NINJA_ARGS"
+	NINJA_ARGS="-j$FDO_CI_CONCURRENT $NINJA_ARGS"
+	MESON_TESTTHREADS="$FDO_CI_CONCURRENT"
 fi
 
 echo "*************************************************"
diff --git a/test/litest.c b/test/litest.c
index 462b9fab..54278bfa 100644
--- a/test/litest.c
+++ b/test/litest.c
@@ -4627,14 +4627,18 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	int tty_mode = -1;
 	int failed_tests;
 	int rc;
+	const char *meson_testthreads;
 
 	in_debugger = is_debugger_attached();
 	if (in_debugger || RUNNING_ON_VALGRIND)
 		setenv("CK_FORK", "no", 0);
 
-	jobs = get_nprocs();
-	if (!RUNNING_ON_VALGRIND)
-		jobs *= 2;
+	if ((meson_testthreads = getenv("MESON_TESTTHREADS")) == NULL ||
+	     !safe_atoi(meson_testthreads, &jobs)) {
+		jobs = get_nprocs();
+		if (!RUNNING_ON_VALGRIND)
+			jobs *= 2;
+	}
 
 	mode = litest_parse_argv(argc, argv);
 	if (mode == LITEST_MODE_ERROR)