diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 292fdadf2..d6d60233c 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -195,8 +195,8 @@ def _serve_test_static():
                 return "text/css"
             return super().guess_type(path)
 
-    class _Server(socketserver.TCPServer):
-        allow_reuse_address = True
+    class _Server(socketserver.ThreadingTCPServer):
+        allow_reuse_address = daemon_threads = True
 
     requested = int(os.environ.get("ODYSSEUS_TEST_STATIC_PORT") or 0)
     if not 0 <= requested <= 65535:
@@ -214,6 +214,8 @@ def _serve_test_static():
     previous_origin = os.environ.get("ODYSSEUS_TEST_STATIC_ORIGIN")
     os.environ["ODYSSEUS_TEST_STATIC_ORIGIN"] = origin
 
+    # One thread per connection: Chromium can hold a speculative connection
+    # open without a request, which stalled serial service for ~30s.
     thread = threading.Thread(target=server.serve_forever, daemon=True)
     thread.start()
     try:
diff --git a/tests/test_static_test_server.py b/tests/test_static_test_server.py
index f55546e9b..7e5bfaad4 100644
--- a/tests/test_static_test_server.py
+++ b/tests/test_static_test_server.py
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ running its own suite took the whole session down with it.
 
 import os
 import re
+import socket
 import urllib.request
+from urllib.parse import urlsplit
 from pathlib import Path
 
 
@@ -31,8 +33,12 @@ def test_static_origin_does_not_reuse_the_application_port() -> None:
 
 def test_static_server_serves_this_worktree() -> None:
     origin = os.environ["ODYSSEUS_TEST_STATIC_ORIGIN"]
+    address = urlsplit(origin)
 
-    with urllib.request.urlopen(f"{origin}/static/js/documentStats.js", timeout=5) as r:
+    # Chromium may open a speculative connection and never send a request;
+    # that must not stall the requests queued behind it.
+    with socket.create_connection((address.hostname, address.port), timeout=5), \
+            urllib.request.urlopen(f"{origin}/static/js/documentStats.js", timeout=5) as r:
         assert r.status == 200
         assert r.headers.get_content_type() == "application/javascript"