diff --git a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_server.py b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_server.py
index 6e300ee6c5d..9224b2ac672 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_server.py
+++ b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_server.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import logging
 import threading
 import time
 
+from concurrent import futures
 import six
 
 import grpc
@@ -565,8 +566,8 @@ def _send_message_callback_to_blocking_iterator_adapter(
 
 
 def _select_thread_pool_for_behavior(behavior, default_thread_pool):
-    if hasattr(behavior, 'experimental_thread_pool'
-              ) and behavior.experimental_thread_pool is not None:
+    if hasattr(behavior, 'experimental_thread_pool') and isinstance(
+            behavior.experimental_thread_pool, futures.ThreadPoolExecutor):
         return behavior.experimental_thread_pool
     else:
         return default_thread_pool
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/thread_pool.py b/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/thread_pool.py
index e99efc3e927..bc0f0e523bc 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/thread_pool.py
+++ b/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/thread_pool.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import threading
 from concurrent import futures
 
 
-class RecordingThreadPool(futures.Executor):
+class RecordingThreadPool(futures.ThreadPoolExecutor):
     """A thread pool that records if used."""
 
     def __init__(self, max_workers):