diff --git a/Lib/test/test_perf_profiler.py b/Lib/test/test_perf_profiler.py
index 597e6599352049..ae6bfe513eba81 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_perf_profiler.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_perf_profiler.py
@@ -116,11 +116,14 @@ def baz_fork():
                 def foo():
                     pid = os.fork()
                     if pid == 0:
-                        print(os.getpid())
+                        print(os.getpid(), flush=True)
                         baz_fork()
+                        os._exit(0)
                     else:
                         _, status = os.waitpid(-1, 0)
-                        sys.exit(status)
+                        if os.WIFSIGNALED(status):
+                            sys.exit(1)
+                        sys.exit(os.WEXITSTATUS(status))
 
                 def bar():
                     foo()
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Tests/2026-04-04-00-00-00.gh-issue-144766.Yk3mPq.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Tests/2026-04-04-00-00-00.gh-issue-144766.Yk3mPq.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..6851b470e1ac97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Tests/2026-04-04-00-00-00.gh-issue-144766.Yk3mPq.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+Fix flaky :func:`test_trampoline_works_with_forks` by using ``os._exit(0)``
+in the fork child to avoid fragile Python finalization, and by flushing
+stdout before exit. Also fix the parent's wait status handling to use
+``os.WEXITSTATUS()``.