diff --git a/hoomd/hpmc/pytest/test_nec.py b/hoomd/hpmc/pytest/test_nec.py
index 22a5c2bac8..c8f2b5ac30 100644
--- a/hoomd/hpmc/pytest/test_nec.py
+++ b/hoomd/hpmc/pytest/test_nec.py
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@
 # Part of HOOMD-blue, released under the BSD 3-Clause License.
 
 import hoomd
+import pytest
 
 
+@pytest.mark.serial
 def test_nec(simulation_factory, lattice_snapshot_factory):
     snap = lattice_snapshot_factory(particle_types=["A"])
     simulation = simulation_factory(snap)