diff --git a/test/cpp/common/timer_test.cc b/test/cpp/common/timer_test.cc
index f5083d66e76da..0ce6633088f31 100644
--- a/test/cpp/common/timer_test.cc
+++ b/test/cpp/common/timer_test.cc
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@
 #include "src/core/lib/iomgr/timer_manager.h"
 #include "test/core/util/test_config.h"
 
+#ifdef GRPC_POSIX_SOCKET
+#include "src/core/lib/iomgr/ev_posix.h"
+#endif
+
 // MAYBE_SKIP_TEST is a macro to determine if this particular test configuration
 // should be skipped based on a decision made at SetUp time.
 #define MAYBE_SKIP_TEST \
@@ -39,9 +43,17 @@
 class TimerTest : public ::testing::Test {
  protected:
   void SetUp() override {
-    // Skip test if slowdown factor > 1.
-    do_not_test_ = (grpc_test_slowdown_factor() != 1);
     grpc_init();
+    // Skip test if slowdown factor > 1, or we are
+    // using event manager.
+#ifdef GRPC_POSIX_SOCKET
+    if (grpc_test_slowdown_factor() != 1 ||
+        grpc_event_engine_run_in_background()) {
+#else
+    if (grpc_test_slowdown_factor() != 1) {
+#endif
+      do_not_test_ = true;
+    }
   }
 
   void TearDown() override { grpc_shutdown_blocking(); }