diff --git a/spack/package.py b/spack/package.py
index 36243abb..6a12b6fd 100644
--- a/spack/package.py
+++ b/spack/package.py
@@ -109,4 +109,4 @@ def setup_run_environment(self, env):
     @when("@4:")
     def check(self):
         with working_dir(self.builder.build_directory):
-            make("test")
+            make("-j1")