diff --git a/tests/utils.py b/tests/utils.py
index 2dbc309aee..25f66f8442 100644
--- a/tests/utils.py
+++ b/tests/utils.py
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ def clean_up_migration_jobs(client, vm):
 
 def get_os_cpu_count(vm):
     if "windows" in vm.name:
-        cmd = shlex.split("echo %NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS%")
+        cmd = shlex.split('powershell.exe -command "[Environment]::ProcessorCount"')
     else:
         cmd = shlex.split("nproc")
     return int(run_ssh_commands(host=vm.ssh_exec, commands=cmd)[0].strip())