diff --git a/src/xdist/plugin.py b/src/xdist/plugin.py
index 0a07b712..88c5b74a 100644
--- a/src/xdist/plugin.py
+++ b/src/xdist/plugin.py
@@ -97,6 +97,13 @@ def pytest_addoption(parser: pytest.Parser) -> None:
         help="Maximum number of workers that can be restarted "
         "when crashed (set to zero to disable this feature)",
     )
+    group.addoption(
+        "--dist-reset-workers",
+        action="store_true",
+        dest="dist_reset_workers",
+        default=False,
+        help="If set, workers are restarted after each test file.",
+    )
     group.addoption(
         "--dist",
         metavar="distmode",
diff --git a/src/xdist/remote.py b/src/xdist/remote.py
index 436b5ddf..9c88ab08 100644
--- a/src/xdist/remote.py
+++ b/src/xdist/remote.py
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ def __init__(self, config: pytest.Config, channel: execnet.Channel) -> None:
         self.channel = channel
         self.torun = TestQueue(self.channel.gateway.execmodel)
         self.nextitem_index: int | None | Literal[Marker.SHUTDOWN] = None
+        self.shutdown_on_finish = False
         config.pluginmanager.register(self)
 
     def sendevent(self, name: str, **kwargs: object) -> None:
@@ -170,6 +171,8 @@ def handle_command(
                 self.torun.put(i)
         elif name == "shutdown":
             self.torun.put(Marker.SHUTDOWN)
+        elif name == "shutdown_after_finished":
+            self.shutdown_on_finish = True
         elif name == "steal":
             self.steal(kwargs["indices"])
 
@@ -200,12 +203,15 @@ def steal(self, indices: Sequence[int]) -> None:
     @pytest.hookimpl
     def pytest_runtestloop(self, session: pytest.Session) -> bool:
         self.log("entering main loop")
+        self.shutdown_on_finish = False
         self.channel.setcallback(self.handle_command, endmarker=Marker.SHUTDOWN)
         self.nextitem_index = self.torun.get()
         while self.nextitem_index is not Marker.SHUTDOWN:
             self.run_one_test()
             if session.shouldfail or session.shouldstop:
                 break
+        if self.shutdown_on_finish:
+            os._exit(1)
         return True
 
     def run_one_test(self) -> None:
diff --git a/src/xdist/scheduler/loadscope.py b/src/xdist/scheduler/loadscope.py
index 73162dcd..116bbcfe 100644
--- a/src/xdist/scheduler/loadscope.py
+++ b/src/xdist/scheduler/loadscope.py
@@ -281,6 +281,9 @@ def _assign_work_unit(self, node: WorkerController) -> None:
 
         node.send_runtest_some(nodeids_indexes)
 
+        if self.config.option.dist_reset_workers:
+            node.send_shutdown_after_finished()
+
     def _split_scope(self, nodeid: str) -> str:
         """Determine the scope (grouping) of a nodeid.
 
diff --git a/src/xdist/workermanage.py b/src/xdist/workermanage.py
index 201c8e71..5fd7ff91 100644
--- a/src/xdist/workermanage.py
+++ b/src/xdist/workermanage.py
@@ -372,6 +372,9 @@ def send_runtest_all(self) -> None:
     def send_steal(self, indices: Sequence[int]) -> None:
         self.sendcommand("steal", indices=indices)
 
+    def send_shutdown_after_finished(self) -> None:
+        self.sendcommand("shutdown_after_finished")
+
     def shutdown(self) -> None:
         if not self._down:
             try: