diff --git a/sql/connect/client/jvm/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/connect/test/RemoteSparkSession.scala b/sql/connect/client/jvm/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/connect/test/RemoteSparkSession.scala
index efac3bc7561f..6229e6e299db 100644
--- a/sql/connect/client/jvm/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/connect/test/RemoteSparkSession.scala
+++ b/sql/connect/client/jvm/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/connect/test/RemoteSparkSession.scala
@@ -93,6 +93,11 @@ object SparkConnectServerUtils {
     if (isDebug) {
       builder.redirectError(Redirect.INHERIT)
       builder.redirectOutput(Redirect.INHERIT)
+    } else {
+      // If output is not consumed, the stdout/stderr pipe buffers will fill up,
+      // causing the server process to block on write() calls
+      builder.redirectError(Redirect.DISCARD)
+      builder.redirectOutput(Redirect.DISCARD)
     }
 
     val process = builder.start()