diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index fe58926df23e1f934ae6e87cfde755c8f71cdb1c..b192cb4cb9f7d2b1625373941ca8cd43bf416edd 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1522,9 +1522,9 @@ coverage-test-on-main-scheduled:
     - make GCOV=1 -j
     - cp IVAS_rend IVAS_rend_ref # Copy exec to be able to run renderer script
     - python3 tests/create_short_testvectors.py
-    - python3 -m pytest $TESTS_DIR_CODEC_BE_ON_MR -v -n 0 --update_ref 1 -m create_ref --ref_encoder_path ./IVAS_cod --ref_decoder_path ./IVAS_dec
-    - python3 -m pytest $TESTS_DIR_CODEC_BE_ON_MR -v -n 0 --update_ref 1 -m create_ref_part2 --ref_encoder_path ./IVAS_cod --ref_decoder_path ./IVAS_dec
-    - python3 -m pytest $TESTS_DIR_CODEC_BE_ON_MR/test_param_file.py -v -n 0 --update_ref 1 -m create_ref --param_file scripts/config/self_test_evs.prm --ref_encoder_path ./IVAS_cod --ref_decoder_path ./IVAS_dec
+    - python3 -m pytest $TESTS_DIR_CODEC_BE_ON_MR -v -n auto --update_ref 1 -m create_ref --ref_encoder_path ./IVAS_cod --ref_decoder_path ./IVAS_dec
+    - python3 -m pytest $TESTS_DIR_CODEC_BE_ON_MR -v -n auto --update_ref 1 -m create_ref_part2 --ref_encoder_path ./IVAS_cod --ref_decoder_path ./IVAS_dec
+    - python3 -m pytest $TESTS_DIR_CODEC_BE_ON_MR/test_param_file.py -v -n auto --update_ref 1 -m create_ref --param_file scripts/config/self_test_evs.prm --ref_encoder_path ./IVAS_cod --ref_decoder_path ./IVAS_dec
     - bash ci/smoke_test.sh coverage
     - python3 -m pytest -q -n auto tests/renderer/test_renderer_be_comparison.py
     - bash ci/ivas_voip_be_test.sh coverage
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 1f2b29b9c5e7277247ba8998d1179df1908b0c37..478e1a2fcb6f94e2d28fe85671ccdee769f5f673 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -89,8 +89,8 @@ if(UNIX)
   endif()
   # GCOV
   if(GCOV)
-    set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS "${CMAKE_C_FLAGS} -fprofile-arcs -ftest-coverage")
-    set(CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS "${CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS} -fprofile-arcs -ftest-coverage")
+    set(CMAKE_C_FLAGS "${CMAKE_C_FLAGS} -fprofile-arcs -ftest-coverage -fprofile-update=atomic")
+    set(CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS "${CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS} -fprofile-arcs -ftest-coverage -fprofile-update=atomic")
   endif()
   # STRIP
   if(STRIP)
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index a8ed6662a96ea983b1f6a5520b50ebf6569aa0e6..8955e04e665a5468618937419cf2118978436d21 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -96,8 +96,8 @@ LDFLAGS  += -g3
 endif
 
 ifeq "$(GCOV)" "1"
-CFLAGS  += -fprofile-arcs -ftest-coverage
-LDFLAGS += -fprofile-arcs -ftest-coverage
+CFLAGS  += -fprofile-arcs -ftest-coverage -fprofile-update=atomic
+LDFLAGS += -fprofile-arcs -ftest-coverage -fprofile-update=atomic
 endif
 
 ifeq "$(STRIP)" "1"
diff --git a/ci/smoke_test.sh b/ci/smoke_test.sh
index e12615704dd982a0b675aee5da3bbcfa9c705b41..4e3be38db3f6b2ad95f8ef455fa0df1551e41f7d 100755
--- a/ci/smoke_test.sh
+++ b/ci/smoke_test.sh
@@ -43,10 +43,8 @@ if [ ! -d "lib_com" ]; then
 fi
 
 if [ -z "$1" ] || [ "$1" == "test" ]; then
-    WORKERS=""
     BUILD=1
 elif [ "$1" == "coverage" ]; then
-    WORKERS="-t 1"
     BUILD=0
 else
     usage
@@ -85,21 +83,21 @@ echo "\n======================= 0. preparing combined format test inputs =======
 ism_modes=$(./scripts/runIvasCodec.py -l | grep ^ISM)
 non_ism_modes=$(./scripts/runIvasCodec.py -l | grep -v ^ISM)
 echo "\n======================= 1. non-ism modes no FEC =======================\n\n"
-./scripts/runIvasCodec.py $verbosity_cmd -m $non_ism_modes -p $cfg $duration_arg $WORKERS | tee smoke_test_output.txt
+./scripts/runIvasCodec.py $verbosity_cmd -m $non_ism_modes -p $cfg $duration_arg | tee smoke_test_output.txt
 echo "\n======================= 2. ism modes no FEC =======================\n\n"
-./scripts/runIvasCodec.py $verbosity_cmd -m $ism_modes -p $cfg $duration_arg $WORKERS $ism_md_cmd | tee smoke_test_output.txt
+./scripts/runIvasCodec.py $verbosity_cmd -m $ism_modes -p $cfg $duration_arg $ism_md_cmd | tee smoke_test_output.txt
 # run the decoding again, but with 15% frame loss
 echo "\n======================= 3. all modes with FEC =======================\n\n"
-./scripts/runIvasCodec.py $verbosity_cmd -p $cfg $duration_arg $WORKERS -D="-fec 15" --decoder_only | tee smoke_test_output_plc.txt
+./scripts/runIvasCodec.py $verbosity_cmd -p $cfg $duration_arg -D="-fec 15" --decoder_only | tee smoke_test_output_plc.txt
 
 # run JBM modes - EXT is excluded as not supported yet
 # OMASA disabled for now
 modes_with_no_ext_out=$(./scripts/runIvasCodec.py -l | grep -v ^MASA | grep -v ^ISM | grep -v OMASA)
 modes_with_ext_out=$(./scripts/runIvasCodec.py -l | grep 'MASA\|ISM' | grep -v ^ISM+ | grep -v OMASA)
 echo "\n======================= 4. JBM, modes with no EXT =======================\n\n"
-./scripts/runIvasCodec.py $verbosity_cmd -m $modes_with_no_ext_out -p $cfg $duration_arg $WORKERS --decoder_only --jbm_file $dly_profile | tee smoke_test_output_jbm_noEXT.txt
+./scripts/runIvasCodec.py $verbosity_cmd -m $modes_with_no_ext_out -p $cfg $duration_arg --decoder_only --jbm_file $dly_profile | tee smoke_test_output_jbm_noEXT.txt
 echo "\n======================= 5. JBM, modes with EXT =======================\n\n"
-./scripts/runIvasCodec.py  $verbosity_cmd -m $modes_with_ext_out -p $cfg $duration_arg $WORKERS --decoder_only --jbm_file $dly_profile --oc BINAURAL BINAURAL_ROOM_IR mono stereo FOA HOA3 5_1 7_1_4 | tee -a smoke_test_output_jbm_noEXT.txt
+./scripts/runIvasCodec.py  $verbosity_cmd -m $modes_with_ext_out -p $cfg $duration_arg --decoder_only --jbm_file $dly_profile --oc BINAURAL BINAURAL_ROOM_IR mono stereo FOA HOA3 5_1 7_1_4 | tee -a smoke_test_output_jbm_noEXT.txt
 
 # run all modes with binaural output using external files
 modes_with_bin_out="FOA HOA2 HOA3 PlanarFOA PlanarHOA2 PlanarHOA3 MASA MC ISM1 ISM2 ISM3 ISM4"
@@ -108,14 +106,14 @@ bin_out_modes="BINAURAL BINAURAL_ROOM_IR"
 echo "\n======================= 6. binaural out with HRTF files - WB =======================\n\n"
 wb_modes=$(./scripts/runIvasCodec.py -l -C $modes_with_bin_out | grep _wb_)
 hrtf_wb="../scripts/binauralRenderer_interface/binaural_renderers_hrtf_data/ivas_binaural_16kHz.bin"
-./scripts/runIvasCodec.py $verbosity_cmd -p $cfg -m $wb_modes $duration_arg $WORKERS -D="-hrtf ${hrtf_wb}" --decoder_only --oc $bin_out_modes | tee -a smoke_test_output_hrtf.txt
+./scripts/runIvasCodec.py $verbosity_cmd -p $cfg -m $wb_modes $duration_arg -D="-hrtf ${hrtf_wb}" --decoder_only --oc $bin_out_modes | tee -a smoke_test_output_hrtf.txt
 
 echo "\n======================= 7. binaural out with HRTF files - SWB =======================\n\n"
 swb_modes=$(./scripts/runIvasCodec.py -l -C $modes_with_bin_out | grep _swb_)
 hrtf_swb="../scripts/binauralRenderer_interface/binaural_renderers_hrtf_data/ivas_binaural_32kHz.bin"
-./scripts/runIvasCodec.py $verbosity_cmd -p $cfg -m $swb_modes $duration_arg $WORKERS -D="-hrtf ${hrtf_swb}" --decoder_only --oc $bin_out_modes | tee -a smoke_test_output_hrtf.txt
+./scripts/runIvasCodec.py $verbosity_cmd -p $cfg -m $swb_modes $duration_arg -D="-hrtf ${hrtf_swb}" --decoder_only --oc $bin_out_modes | tee -a smoke_test_output_hrtf.txt
 
 echo "\n======================= 8. binaural out with HRTF files - FB =======================\n\n"
 fb_modes=$(./scripts/runIvasCodec.py -l -C $modes_with_bin_out | grep _fb_)
 hrtf_fb="../scripts/binauralRenderer_interface/binaural_renderers_hrtf_data/ivas_binaural_48kHz.bin"
-./scripts/runIvasCodec.py $verbosity_cmd -p $cfg -m $fb_modes $duration_arg $WORKERS -D="-hrtf ${hrtf_fb}" --decoder_only --oc $bin_out_modes | tee -a smoke_test_output_hrtf.txt
+./scripts/runIvasCodec.py $verbosity_cmd -p $cfg -m $fb_modes $duration_arg -D="-hrtf ${hrtf_fb}" --decoder_only --oc $bin_out_modes | tee -a smoke_test_output_hrtf.txt