diff --git a/jwst/wfss_contam/observations.py b/jwst/wfss_contam/observations.py
index 19aa05d7f8f..62b66dfcf63 100644
--- a/jwst/wfss_contam/observations.py
+++ b/jwst/wfss_contam/observations.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import time
+import multiprocessing
 import numpy as np
-from multiprocessing import Pool
 
 from scipy import sparse
 
@@ -259,7 +259,8 @@ def disperse_chunk(self, c, order, wmin, wmax, sens_waves, sens_resp):
 
         time1 = time.time()
         if self.max_cpu > 1:
-            mypool = Pool(self.max_cpu)  # Create the pool
+            ctx = multiprocessing.get_context("forkserver")
+            mypool = ctx.Pool(self.max_cpu)  # Create the pool
             all_res = mypool.imap_unordered(dispersed_pixel, pars)  # Fill the pool
             mypool.close()  # Drain the pool
         else: