diff --git a/ci/test_external.sh b/ci/test_external.sh
index 87b68dc3..613b7d1f 100755
--- a/ci/test_external.sh
+++ b/ci/test_external.sh
@@ -80,7 +80,10 @@ trap "EXITCODE=1" ERR
 set +e
 
 rapids-logger "running all gathered tests"
-DATASHADER_TEST_GPU=1 pytest --numprocesses=8 $FILES
+DATASHADER_TEST_GPU=1 pytest \
+  --numprocesses=8 \
+  --dist=worksteal \
+  $FILES
 
 if [[ "$PROJECT" = "all" ]] || [[ "$PROJECT" = "datashader" ]]; then
     # run test_quadmesh.py separately as dask.array tests fail with numprocesses
diff --git a/ci/test_python.sh b/ci/test_python.sh
index af505feb..50bc0817 100755
--- a/ci/test_python.sh
+++ b/ci/test_python.sh
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ pytest \
   --cache-clear \
   --junitxml="${RAPIDS_TESTS_DIR}/junit-cuxfilter.xml" \
    --numprocesses=8 \
+   --dist=worksteal \
   --cov-config=.coveragerc \
   --cov=cuxfilter \
   --cov-report=xml:"${RAPIDS_COVERAGE_DIR}/cuxfilter-coverage.xml" \