diff --git a/scripts/test-planner/executor.mjs b/scripts/test-planner/executor.mjs
index 65630c4ad07..53bf682359e 100644
--- a/scripts/test-planner/executor.mjs
+++ b/scripts/test-planner/executor.mjs
@@ -645,7 +645,6 @@ export async function executePlan(plan, options = {}) {
           child.stderr?.destroy();
           finalizeRun(code, signal, "exit-timeout");
         }, closeGraceMs);
-        closeFallbackTimer.unref?.();
       });
       child.on("close", (code, signal) => {
         finalizeRun(childExitState?.code ?? code, childExitState?.signal ?? signal, "close");