diff --git a/src/xdist/workermanage.py b/src/xdist/workermanage.py
index a8a8993..a4c0fb5 100644
--- a/src/xdist/workermanage.py
+++ b/src/xdist/workermanage.py
@@ -97,17 +97,19 @@ class NodeManager:
         self.trace("setting up nodes")
         with ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=len(self.specs)) as executor:
             futs = [
-                executor.submit(self.setup_node, spec, putevent) for spec in self.specs
+                executor.submit(self.setup_node, idx, spec, putevent) for idx, spec in enumerate(self.specs)
             ]
             return [f.result() for f in futs]
 
     def setup_node(
         self,
+        idx: int,
         spec: execnet.XSpec,
         putevent: Callable[[tuple[str, dict[str, Any]]], None],
     ) -> WorkerController:
         if getattr(spec, "execmodel", None) != "main_thread_only":
             spec = execnet.XSpec(f"execmodel=main_thread_only//{spec}")
+        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/test_workermanage.py b/testing/test_workermanage.py
index b3e8a1c..1de8aac 100644
--- a/testing/test_workermanage.py
+++ b/testing/test_workermanage.py
@@ -82,11 +82,20 @@ class TestNodeManagerPopen:
         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"),
+        ]
+        ids = {c.gateway.id for c in gw_calls}
+        assert ids == {"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)