diff --git a/Lib/multiprocessing/forkserver.py b/Lib/multiprocessing/forkserver.py
index c91891ff162c2d..cc8947c5e04fb1 100644
--- a/Lib/multiprocessing/forkserver.py
+++ b/Lib/multiprocessing/forkserver.py
@@ -145,12 +145,13 @@ def ensure_running(self):
             cmd = ('from multiprocessing.forkserver import main; ' +
                    'main(%d, %d, %r, **%r)')
 
+            main_kws = {}
             if self._preload_modules:
-                desired_keys = {'main_path', 'sys_path'}
                 data = spawn.get_preparation_data('ignore')
-                main_kws = {x: y for x, y in data.items() if x in desired_keys}
-            else:
-                main_kws = {}
+                if 'sys_path' in data:
+                    main_kws['sys_path'] = data['sys_path']
+                if 'init_main_from_path' in data:
+                    main_kws['main_path'] = data['init_main_from_path']
 
             with socket.socket(socket.AF_UNIX) as listener:
                 address = connection.arbitrary_address('AF_UNIX')
diff --git a/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py b/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py
index a1259ff1d63d18..ca0bd5d06ef91f 100644
--- a/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py
+++ b/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py
@@ -6895,6 +6895,18 @@ def child():
         self.assertEqual(q.get_nowait(), "done")
         close_queue(q)
 
+    def test_preload_main(self):
+        # gh-126631: Check that __main__ can be pre-loaded
+        if multiprocessing.get_start_method() != "forkserver":
+            self.skipTest("forkserver specific test")
+
+        name = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'mp_preload_main.py')
+        _, out, err = test.support.script_helper.assert_python_ok(name)
+        self.assertFalse(err, msg=err.decode())
+
+        # TODO: Where is the extra empty line coming from?
+        out = out.decode().split("\n")
+        self.assertEqual(out, ['__main__', '__mp_main__', 'f', 'f', ''])
 
 #
 # Mixins
diff --git a/Lib/test/mp_preload_main.py b/Lib/test/mp_preload_main.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..acb342822ecc89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Lib/test/mp_preload_main.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+import multiprocessing
+
+print(f"{__name__}")
+
+def f():
+    print("f")
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    ctx = multiprocessing.get_context("forkserver")
+    ctx.set_forkserver_preload(['__main__'])
+    for _ in range(2):
+        p = ctx.Process(target=f)
+        p.start()
+        p.join()
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2025-06-10-21-00-48.gh-issue-126631.eITVJd.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2025-06-10-21-00-48.gh-issue-126631.eITVJd.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..195253b1ec1e39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2025-06-10-21-00-48.gh-issue-126631.eITVJd.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Fix :mod:`multiprocessing` ``forkserver`` bug which prevented ``__main__``
+from being preloaded.