diff --git a/tractor/_testing/addr.py b/tractor/_testing/addr.py
index 1b066336..b1ccf005 100644
--- a/tractor/_testing/addr.py
+++ b/tractor/_testing/addr.py
@@ -61,7 +61,11 @@ def get_rando_addr(
         # NOTE, file-name uniqueness (no-collisions) will be based on
         # the runtime-directory and root (pytest-proc's) pid.
         case 'uds':
-            testrun_reg_addr = addr_type.get_random().unwrap()
+            from tractor.ipc._uds import UDSAddress
+            addr: UDSAddress = addr_type.get_random()
+            assert addr.is_valid
+            assert addr.sockpath.resolve()
+            testrun_reg_addr = addr.unwrap()
 
     # XXX, as sanity it should never the same as the default for the
     # host-singleton registry actor.
diff --git a/tractor/ipc/_uds.py b/tractor/ipc/_uds.py
index 4b393fb6..a7d450a6 100644
--- a/tractor/ipc/_uds.py
+++ b/tractor/ipc/_uds.py
@@ -197,9 +197,11 @@ class UDSAddress(
             # sockname: str = '.'.join(actor.uid) + f'@{pid}'
             # -[ ] CURRENTLY using `.` BREAKS TEST SUITE tho..
         else:
-            prefix: str = '<unknown-actor>'
             if is_root_process():
-                prefix: str = 'root'
+                prefix: str = 'no_runtime_root'
+            else:
+                prefix: str = 'no_runtime_actor'
+
             sockname: str = f'{prefix}@{pid}'
 
         sockpath: Path = Path(f'{sockname}.sock')