diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 3211ab8b9..292fdadf2 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -351,7 +351,8 @@ def context_probe_ledger(_no_context_window_network_probe):
     return _no_context_window_network_probe
 
 
-@pytest.hookimpl(specname="pytest_configure")
+# Before pytest's tmpdir plugin reads the basetemp this sets.
+@pytest.hookimpl(specname="pytest_configure", tryfirst=True)
 def pytest_configure_worker_runtime(config):
     configure_runtime(config, _runtime_environment)
 
diff --git a/tests/helpers/worker_runtime.py b/tests/helpers/worker_runtime.py
index d745ff607..44a76bc4c 100644
--- a/tests/helpers/worker_runtime.py
+++ b/tests/helpers/worker_runtime.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ def bootstrap_runtime():
     if os.environ.get("APP_PORT") and not worker:
         return None
     runtime = isolated_runtime(worker or "main")
-    runtime.__enter__()
+    runtime.root = runtime.__enter__()
     return runtime
 
 
@@ -22,6 +22,12 @@ def configure_runtime(config, runtime):
     """Register ownership even when configuration or collection fails."""
     if runtime is not None:
         config.add_cleanup(lambda: runtime.__exit__(None, None, None))
+        # pytest's default <TMPDIR>/pytest-of-<user>/pytest-<n> beneath the
+        # private TMPDIR, plus xdist's popen-gw<n>, overflows the 107-byte
+        # AF_UNIX limit for sockets in tmp_path. Workers inherit a basetemp
+        # under the controller's; an explicit --basetemp still wins.
+        if config.option.basetemp is None and not hasattr(config, "workerinput"):
+            config.option.basetemp = str(runtime.root / "pytest")
     parallel = bool(getattr(config.option, "numprocesses", None)) or hasattr(config, "workerinput")
     # This consumes the existing test option; its public read and documented
     # source location remain in the static-server fixture.
diff --git a/tests/test_worker_runtime.py b/tests/test_worker_runtime.py
index 5ff9e87d4..a91157902 100644
--- a/tests/test_worker_runtime.py
+++ b/tests/test_worker_runtime.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """The default namespace must protect callers and simultaneous pytest runs."""
 
 import os
+import socket
 import subprocess
 import sys
 import tempfile
@@ -70,3 +71,11 @@ def test_subprocess_inherits_private_temp_and_data_directories():
         assert (root / "data" / "child").read_text() == "data"
         assert (root / "tmp" / "child").read_text() == "temp"
     assert not root.exists()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(not hasattr(socket, "AF_UNIX"), reason="requires AF_UNIX")
+def test_tmp_path_under_private_runtime_fits_unix_socket(tmp_path):
+    # pytest truncates this name to 30 characters, as for the real-tmux
+    # witness. A nested pytest-of-<user> basetemp made it 110 bytes under xdist.
+    with socket.socket(socket.AF_UNIX) as sock:
+        sock.bind(str(tmp_path / "tmux.sock"))