diff --git a/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_channel_connectivity_test.py b/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_channel_connectivity_test.py
index 3c00f686cec..9cae96a00d8 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_channel_connectivity_test.py
+++ b/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_channel_connectivity_test.py
@@ -32,12 +32,12 @@
 import threading
 import time
 import unittest
-from concurrent import futures
 
 import grpc
 from grpc import _channel
 from grpc import _server
 from tests.unit.framework.common import test_constants
+from tests.unit import _thread_pool
 
 
 def _ready_in_connectivities(connectivities):
@@ -104,7 +104,8 @@ class ChannelConnectivityTest(unittest.TestCase):
         grpc.ChannelConnectivity.READY, fifth_connectivities)
 
   def test_immediately_connectable_channel_connectivity(self):
-    server = _server.Server(futures.ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=0), ())
+    thread_pool = _thread_pool.RecordingThreadPool(max_workers=None)
+    server = _server.Server(thread_pool, ())
     port = server.add_insecure_port('[::]:0')
     server.start()
     first_callback = _Callback()
@@ -141,9 +142,11 @@ class ChannelConnectivityTest(unittest.TestCase):
         fourth_connectivities)
     self.assertNotIn(
         grpc.ChannelConnectivity.SHUTDOWN, fourth_connectivities)
+    self.assertFalse(thread_pool.was_used())
 
   def test_reachable_then_unreachable_channel_connectivity(self):
-    server = _server.Server(futures.ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=0), ())
+    thread_pool = _thread_pool.RecordingThreadPool(max_workers=None)
+    server = _server.Server(thread_pool, ())
     port = server.add_insecure_port('[::]:0')
     server.start()
     callback = _Callback()
@@ -155,6 +158,7 @@ class ChannelConnectivityTest(unittest.TestCase):
     server.stop(None)
     callback.block_until_connectivities_satisfy(_last_connectivity_is_not_ready)
     channel.unsubscribe(callback.update)
+    self.assertFalse(thread_pool.was_used())
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_channel_ready_future_test.py b/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_channel_ready_future_test.py
index e8982ed2ded..24f5b45b18e 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_channel_ready_future_test.py
+++ b/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_channel_ready_future_test.py
@@ -31,12 +31,12 @@
 
 import threading
 import unittest
-from concurrent import futures
 
 import grpc
 from grpc import _channel
 from grpc import _server
 from tests.unit.framework.common import test_constants
+from tests.unit import _thread_pool
 
 
 class _Callback(object):
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@ class ChannelReadyFutureTest(unittest.TestCase):
     self.assertFalse(ready_future.running())
 
   def test_immediately_connectable_channel_connectivity(self):
-    server = _server.Server(futures.ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=0), ())
+    thread_pool = _thread_pool.RecordingThreadPool(max_workers=None)
+    server = _server.Server(thread_pool, ())
     port = server.add_insecure_port('[::]:0')
     server.start()
     channel = grpc.insecure_channel('localhost:{}'.format(port))
@@ -97,6 +98,7 @@ class ChannelReadyFutureTest(unittest.TestCase):
     self.assertFalse(ready_future.cancelled())
     self.assertTrue(ready_future.done())
     self.assertFalse(ready_future.running())
+    self.assertFalse(thread_pool.was_used())
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_thread_pool.py b/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_thread_pool.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f13cc2f86fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/python/grpcio_tests/tests/unit/_thread_pool.py
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+# Copyright 2016, Google Inc.
+# All rights reserved.
+#
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+# met:
+#
+#     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+# notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+#     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
+# copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
+# in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+# distribution.
+#     * Neither the name of Google Inc. nor the names of its
+# contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+# this software without specific prior written permission.
+#
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+# "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+# LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+# A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+# OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+# SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+# LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+# DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+# THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+# (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+# OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+import threading
+from concurrent import futures
+
+
+class RecordingThreadPool(futures.Executor):
+  """A thread pool that records if used."""
+  def __init__(self, max_workers):
+    self._tp_executor = futures.ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=max_workers)
+    self._lock = threading.Lock()
+    self._was_used = False
+
+  def submit(self, fn, *args, **kwargs):
+    with self._lock:
+      self._was_used = True
+    self._tp_executor.submit(fn, *args, **kwargs)
+
+  def was_used(self):
+    with self._lock:
+      return self._was_used