diff --git a/tests/vmcheck/test-layering-scripts.sh b/tests/vmcheck/test-layering-scripts.sh
index 10407eacdf..b9857f090d 100755
--- a/tests/vmcheck/test-layering-scripts.sh
+++ b/tests/vmcheck/test-layering-scripts.sh
@@ -163,27 +163,18 @@ fi
 cursor=$(vm_get_journal_cursor)
 vm_build_rpm post-that-hangs \
              post "echo entering post-that-hangs-infloop 1>&2; while true; do sleep 1h; done"
-# Enable job control so we can do a background job, then foreground.
-set -m
-nohup $SSH -t -t rpm-ostree install post-that-hangs &
+# use a systemd transient service as an easy way to run in the background
+vm_cmd systemd-run --unit vmcheck-install-hang rpm-ostree install post-that-hangs
 if ! vm_wait_content_after_cursor "${cursor}" "entering post-that-hangs-infloop"; then
-    kill -s INT %1
-    fg %1 || true
-    exit 1
+    vm_cmd systemctl stop vmcheck-install-hang
+    assert_not_reached "failed to wait for post-that-hangs"
 fi
-# Explicitly kill the client process in the VM; I originally tried to kill the
-# ssh binary and have it propagate the signal, on our side but couldn't figure
-# out how to make that work.
 vm_cmd pkill --signal INT -f "'rpm-ostree install post-that-hangs'"
-# But do also kill the ssh binary on our side
-kill -s INT %1
-# And wait for that to complete so it doesn't hang the shell
-fg %1 || true
-set +m
 # Wait for our expected result
 vm_wait_content_after_cursor "${cursor}" "Txn.*failed.*Running %post for post-that-hangs"
 # Forcibly restart now to avoid any races with the txn finally exiting
 vm_cmd systemctl restart rpm-ostreed
+echo "ok cancel infinite post"
 
 # Test rm -rf /!
 vm_cmd 'useradd testuser || true'
@@ -195,6 +186,7 @@ fi
 vm_cmd test -f /home/testuser/somedata -a -f /etc/fstab -a -f /tmp/sometmpfile -a -f /var/tmp/sometmpfile
 # This is the error today, we may improve it later
 assert_file_has_content err.txt 'error: sanitycheck: Executing bwrap(/usr/bin/true)'
+echo "ok impervious to rm -rf post"
 
 vm_build_rpm etc-mutate post "truncate -s 0 /etc/selinux/config"
 if vm_rpmostree install etc-mutate; then