diff --git a/cmd/ateom-gvisor/main.go b/cmd/ateom-gvisor/main.go
index cbc1fe9..08ef3cf 100644
--- a/cmd/ateom-gvisor/main.go
+++ b/cmd/ateom-gvisor/main.go
@@ -195,7 +195,36 @@ func NewService(interiorNetNS netns.NsHandle, eth0LinkInfo *SaveLinkInfo, actorL
 	return svc
 }
 
-func (s *AteomService) RunWorkload(ctx context.Context, req *ateompb.RunWorkloadRequest) (*ateompb.RunWorkloadResponse, error) {
+// ensureEth0InPodNetns moves eth0 back to the pod netns if a prior
+// Run/Restore left it stuck in the interior netns. Idempotent: returns
+// nil if eth0 is already in the pod netns or absent from both.
+func ensureEth0InPodNetns(ctx context.Context, s *AteomService) error {
+	if _, err := netlink.LinkByName("eth0"); err == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	podNetNS, err := netns.Get()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("while getting pod netns: %w", err)
+	}
+	var moved bool
+	err = netNSDo(ctx, s.interiorNetNS, func(_ context.Context) error {
+		link, lookupErr := netlink.LinkByName("eth0")
+		if lookupErr != nil {
+			return nil
+		}
+		if mvErr := netlink.LinkSetNsFd(link, int(podNetNS)); mvErr != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("while moving eth0 to pod netns: %w", mvErr)
+		}
+		moved = true
+		return nil
+	})
+	if moved {
+		slog.WarnContext(ctx, "Recovered eth0 from interior netns to pod netns")
+	}
+	return err
+}
+
+func (s *AteomService) RunWorkload(ctx context.Context, req *ateompb.RunWorkloadRequest) (resp *ateompb.RunWorkloadResponse, retErr error) {
 	s.lock.Lock()
 	defer s.lock.Unlock()
 
@@ -206,6 +235,10 @@ func (s *AteomService) RunWorkload(ctx context.Context, req *ateompb.RunWorkload
 	//   * Correct runsc version is downloaded and placed on disk.
 	//   * All OCI bundles are set up, including for "pause" container.
 
+	if err := ensureEth0InPodNetns(ctx, s); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("while recovering eth0 from prior failure: %w", err)
+	}
+
 	// Move pod eth0 into interior netns
 	eth0Link, err := netlink.LinkByName("eth0")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -214,6 +247,15 @@ func (s *AteomService) RunWorkload(ctx context.Context, req *ateompb.RunWorkload
 	if err := netlink.LinkSetNsFd(eth0Link, int(s.interiorNetNS)); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("while moving eth0 into interior network namespace: %w", err)
 	}
+	// Roll eth0 back to the pod netns if any subsequent step errors,
+	// otherwise the worker pod is bricked for the next actor.
+	defer func() {
+		if retErr != nil {
+			if cleanupErr := ensureEth0InPodNetns(ctx, s); cleanupErr != nil {
+				slog.WarnContext(ctx, "Failed to roll back eth0 after Run failure", "err", cleanupErr)
+			}
+		}
+	}()
 
 	slog.InfoContext(ctx, "Restoring eth0 routes/addresses in interior netns")
 	err = netNSDo(ctx, s.interiorNetNS, func(ctx context.Context) error {
@@ -356,7 +398,7 @@ func (s *AteomService) CheckpointWorkload(ctx context.Context, req *ateompb.Chec
 	return nil, nil
 }
 
-func (s *AteomService) RestoreWorkload(ctx context.Context, req *ateompb.RestoreWorkloadRequest) (*ateompb.RestoreWorkloadResponse, error) {
+func (s *AteomService) RestoreWorkload(ctx context.Context, req *ateompb.RestoreWorkloadRequest) (resp *ateompb.RestoreWorkloadResponse, retErr error) {
 	s.lock.Lock()
 	defer s.lock.Unlock()
 
@@ -368,6 +410,10 @@ func (s *AteomService) RestoreWorkload(ctx context.Context, req *ateompb.Restore
 	//   * All OCI bundles are set up, including for "pause" container.
 	//   * Checkpoint downloaded and placed on disk
 
+	if err := ensureEth0InPodNetns(ctx, s); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("while recovering eth0 from prior failure: %w", err)
+	}
+
 	// Move pod eth0 into interior netns
 	eth0Link, err := netlink.LinkByName("eth0")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -376,6 +422,15 @@ func (s *AteomService) RestoreWorkload(ctx context.Context, req *ateompb.Restore
 	if err := netlink.LinkSetNsFd(eth0Link, int(s.interiorNetNS)); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("while moving eth0 into interior network namespace: %w", err)
 	}
+	// Roll eth0 back to the pod netns if any subsequent step errors,
+	// otherwise the worker pod is bricked for the next actor.
+	defer func() {
+		if retErr != nil {
+			if cleanupErr := ensureEth0InPodNetns(ctx, s); cleanupErr != nil {
+				slog.WarnContext(ctx, "Failed to roll back eth0 after Restore failure", "err", cleanupErr)
+			}
+		}
+	}()
 
 	// Restore route and IP information from save onto eth0.
 	slog.InfoContext(ctx, "Restoring eth0 routes/addresses in interior netns")