diff --git a/src/xdist/remote.py b/src/xdist/remote.py
index 409b90b0..4535fcf3 100644
--- a/src/xdist/remote.py
+++ b/src/xdist/remote.py
@@ -434,4 +434,7 @@ def setup_config(config: pytest.Config, basetemp: str | None) -> None:
     config.workerinput = workerinput  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
     config.workeroutput = {}  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
     interactor = WorkerInteractor(config, channel)  # type: ignore[name-defined]
-    config.hook.pytest_cmdline_main(config=config)
+    try:
+        config.hook.pytest_cmdline_main(config=config)
+    except pytest.exit.Exit as e:
+        workeroutput["exitstatus"] = e.returncode