diff --git a/fixtures/detach b/fixtures/detach
index f85eb4af86..7da1f8fd6b 100755
--- a/fixtures/detach
+++ b/fixtures/detach
@@ -1,13 +1,8 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env node
-const fs = require('fs');
-const execa = require('..');
-
-const fd = fs.openSync(process.argv[2], 'w');
+'use strict';
 
-const cp = execa('noop', ['foo'], {
-	detached: true,
-	stdio: ['ignore', fd]
-});
-cp.unref();
+const execa = require('..');
 
+const subprocess = execa('node', ['./fixtures/forever'], {detached: true});
+console.log(subprocess.pid);
 process.exit();
diff --git a/fixtures/forever b/fixtures/forever
index af3141bd24..b64113fa86 100755
--- a/fixtures/forever
+++ b/fixtures/forever
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env node
 'use strict';
 
-setTimeout(() => {}, 20000);
+setTimeout(() => {}, 1e8);
diff --git a/test.js b/test.js
index abbf7d77c8..2cb3095348 100644
--- a/test.js
+++ b/test.js
@@ -581,13 +581,12 @@ test('do not buffer when streaming', async t => {
 });
 
 test('detach child process', async t => {
-	const file = tempfile('.txt');
-
-	await execa('detach', [file]);
-
-	await delay(5000);
+	const {stdout} = await execa('detach');
+	const pid = Number(stdout);
+	t.true(Number.isInteger(pid));
+	t.true(isRunning(pid));
 
-	t.is(fs.readFileSync(file, 'utf8'), 'foo\n');
+	process.kill(pid, 'SIGKILL');
 });
 
 // See #128