diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 3d2e8919..84f67f50 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -959,7 +959,6 @@ if get_option('tests')
 	valgrind = find_program('valgrind', required : false)
 	if valgrind.found()
 		valgrind_env = environment()
-		valgrind_env.set('LITEST_JOBS', '4')
 		valgrind_suppressions_file = join_paths(dir_src_test, 'valgrind.suppressions')
 		add_test_setup('valgrind',
 				exe_wrapper : [ valgrind,
diff --git a/test/litest.c b/test/litest.c
index 2f7e7e4d..03598553 100644
--- a/test/litest.c
+++ b/test/litest.c
@@ -4274,7 +4274,9 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	if (in_debugger || RUNNING_ON_VALGRIND)
 		setenv("CK_FORK", "no", 0);
 
-	jobs = get_nprocs() * 2;
+	jobs = get_nprocs();
+	if (!RUNNING_ON_VALGRIND)
+		jobs *= 2;
 
 	mode = litest_parse_argv(argc, argv);
 	if (mode == LITEST_MODE_ERROR)