diff --git a/src/xdist/workermanage.py b/src/xdist/workermanage.py
index 201c8e71..455e4d3b 100644
--- a/src/xdist/workermanage.py
+++ b/src/xdist/workermanage.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 from collections.abc import Sequence
+from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
 import enum
 import fnmatch
 import os
@@ -92,17 +93,29 @@ def setup_nodes(
         self,
         putevent: Callable[[tuple[str, dict[str, Any]]], None],
     ) -> list[WorkerController]:
+        # create basetemp directory only once
+        if hasattr(self.config, "_tmp_path_factory"):
+            self.config._tmp_path_factory.getbasetemp()
+
         self.config.hook.pytest_xdist_setupnodes(config=self.config, specs=self.specs)
         self.trace("setting up nodes")
-        return [self.setup_node(spec, putevent) for spec in self.specs]
+        with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=len(self.specs)) as executor:
+            futs = [
+                executor.submit(self.setup_node, spec, putevent, idx)
+                for idx, spec in enumerate(self.specs)
+            ]
+            return [f.result() for f in futs]
 
     def setup_node(
         self,
         spec: execnet.XSpec,
         putevent: Callable[[tuple[str, dict[str, Any]]], None],
+        idx: int | None = None,
     ) -> WorkerController:
         if getattr(spec, "execmodel", None) != "main_thread_only":
             spec = execnet.XSpec(f"execmodel=main_thread_only//{spec}")
+        if idx is not None:
+            spec = execnet.XSpec(f"{spec}//id=gw{idx}")
         gw = self.group.makegateway(spec)
         self.config.hook.pytest_xdist_newgateway(gateway=gw)
         self.rsync_roots(gw)
diff --git a/testing/acceptance_test.py b/testing/acceptance_test.py
index 42d5479d..98554ffa 100644
--- a/testing/acceptance_test.py
+++ b/testing/acceptance_test.py
@@ -1247,12 +1247,16 @@ def test(i):
         """
         pytester.makepyfile(test_a=test_file.format(10), test_b=test_file.format(20))
         result = pytester.runpytest("-n2", "--dist=loadscope", "-v")
-        assert get_workers_and_test_count_by_prefix(
-            "test_a.py::test", result.outlines
-        ) == {"gw1": 10}
-        assert get_workers_and_test_count_by_prefix(
-            "test_b.py::test", result.outlines
-        ) == {"gw0": 20}
+        assert list(
+            get_workers_and_test_count_by_prefix(
+                "test_a.py::test", result.outlines
+            ).values()
+        ) == [10]
+        assert list(
+            get_workers_and_test_count_by_prefix(
+                "test_b.py::test", result.outlines
+            ).values()
+        ) == [20]
 
     def test_workqueue_ordered_by_input(self, pytester: pytest.Pytester) -> None:
         test_file = """
diff --git a/testing/test_workermanage.py b/testing/test_workermanage.py
index b3e8a1c7..f128a065 100644
--- a/testing/test_workermanage.py
+++ b/testing/test_workermanage.py
@@ -82,11 +82,19 @@ def test_popen_makegateway_events(
         call = hookrecorder.popcall("pytest_xdist_setupnodes")
         assert len(call.specs) == 2
 
-        call = hookrecorder.popcall("pytest_xdist_newgateway")
-        assert call.gateway.spec == execnet.XSpec("execmodel=main_thread_only//popen")
-        assert call.gateway.id == "gw0"
-        call = hookrecorder.popcall("pytest_xdist_newgateway")
-        assert call.gateway.id == "gw1"
+        # check expected gateways
+        gw_calls = [
+            hookrecorder.popcall("pytest_xdist_newgateway"),
+            hookrecorder.popcall("pytest_xdist_newgateway"),
+        ]
+        assert {c.gateway.id for c in gw_calls} == {"gw0", "gw1"}
+
+        for c in gw_calls:
+            expected_spec = execnet.XSpec(
+                f"execmodel=main_thread_only//popen//id={c.gateway.id}"
+            )
+            assert c.gateway.spec == expected_spec
+
         assert len(hm.group) == 2
         hm.teardown_nodes()
         assert not len(hm.group)