diff --git a/system/manager/manager.py b/system/manager/manager.py
index d8f9a3d8fa02c0..005391a0eaf575 100755
--- a/system/manager/manager.py
+++ b/system/manager/manager.py
@@ -209,7 +209,12 @@ def main() -> None:
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-  unblock_stdout()
+  import platform
+  # On macOS simulation runs, Panda3D/MetaDrive initializes Cocoa in the subprocess.
+  # Calling forkpty (unblock_stdout) before that subprocess spawns is unsafe and
+  # causes the MetaDrive process to hang. Skip it when running as a sim server.
+  if not (platform.system() == "Darwin" and os.getenv("SIMULATION") == "1"):
+    unblock_stdout()
 
   try:
     main()
diff --git a/tools/sim/bridge/metadrive/metadrive_process.py b/tools/sim/bridge/metadrive/metadrive_process.py
index 2486d87ff997cb..0b9a6d9d0bc7ef 100644
--- a/tools/sim/bridge/metadrive/metadrive_process.py
+++ b/tools/sim/bridge/metadrive/metadrive_process.py
@@ -3,27 +3,26 @@
 import numpy as np
 
 from collections import namedtuple
-from panda3d.core import Vec3
 from multiprocessing.connection import Connection
 
-from metadrive.engine.core.engine_core import EngineCore
-from metadrive.engine.core.image_buffer import ImageBuffer
-from metadrive.envs.metadrive_env import MetaDriveEnv
-from metadrive.obs.image_obs import ImageObservation
-
 from openpilot.common.realtime import Ratekeeper
 
 from openpilot.tools.sim.lib.common import vec3
 from openpilot.tools.sim.lib.camerad import W, H
 
-C3_POSITION = Vec3(0.0, 0, 1.22)
-C3_HPR = Vec3(0, 0,0)
-
 
 metadrive_simulation_state = namedtuple("metadrive_simulation_state", ["running", "done", "done_info"])
 metadrive_vehicle_state = namedtuple("metadrive_vehicle_state", ["velocity", "position", "bearing", "steering_angle"])
 
 def apply_metadrive_patches(arrive_dest_done=True):
+  # Lazy imports: Panda3D and MetaDrive initialize Cocoa/OpenGL on import.
+  # Importing in the parent process before a spawn-context subprocess is created
+  # causes crashes on macOS. These imports must happen inside the subprocess only.
+  from metadrive.engine.core.engine_core import EngineCore
+  from metadrive.engine.core.image_buffer import ImageBuffer
+  from metadrive.envs.metadrive_env import MetaDriveEnv
+  from metadrive.obs.image_obs import ImageObservation
+
   # By default, metadrive won't try to use cuda images unless it's used as a sensor for vehicles, so patch that in
   def add_image_sensor_patched(self, name: str, cls, args):
     if self.global_config["image_on_cuda"]:# and name == self.global_config["vehicle_config"]["image_source"]:
@@ -51,9 +50,15 @@ def arrive_destination_patch(self, *args, **kwargs):
 def metadrive_process(dual_camera: bool, config: dict, camera_array, wide_camera_array, image_lock,
                       controls_recv: Connection, simulation_state_send: Connection, vehicle_state_send: Connection,
                       exit_event, op_engaged, test_duration, test_run):
+  from panda3d.core import Vec3
+  from metadrive.envs.metadrive_env import MetaDriveEnv
+
   arrive_dest_done = config.pop("arrive_dest_done", True)
   apply_metadrive_patches(arrive_dest_done)
 
+  c3_position = Vec3(0.0, 0, 1.22)
+  c3_hpr = Vec3(0, 0, 0)
+
   road_image = np.frombuffer(camera_array.get_obj(), dtype=np.uint8).reshape((H, W, 3))
   if dual_camera:
     assert wide_camera_array is not None
@@ -86,8 +91,8 @@ def reset():
   def get_cam_as_rgb(cam):
     cam = env.engine.sensors[cam]
     cam.get_cam().reparentTo(env.vehicle.origin)
-    cam.get_cam().setPos(C3_POSITION)
-    cam.get_cam().setHpr(C3_HPR)
+    cam.get_cam().setPos(c3_position)
+    cam.get_cam().setHpr(c3_hpr)
     img = cam.perceive(to_float=False)
     if not isinstance(img, np.ndarray):
       img = img.get() # convert cupy array to numpy
diff --git a/tools/sim/bridge/metadrive/metadrive_world.py b/tools/sim/bridge/metadrive/metadrive_world.py
index c5111289d01394..8fc36aafbb8f34 100644
--- a/tools/sim/bridge/metadrive/metadrive_world.py
+++ b/tools/sim/bridge/metadrive/metadrive_world.py
@@ -2,10 +2,9 @@
 import functools
 import multiprocessing
 import numpy as np
+import sys
 import time
 
-from multiprocessing import Pipe, Array
-
 from openpilot.tools.sim.bridge.common import QueueMessage, QueueMessageType
 from openpilot.tools.sim.bridge.metadrive.metadrive_process import (metadrive_process, metadrive_simulation_state,
                                                                     metadrive_vehicle_state)
@@ -16,20 +15,26 @@
 class MetaDriveWorld(World):
   def __init__(self, status_q, config, test_duration, test_run, dual_camera=False):
     super().__init__(dual_camera)
+    # On macOS, use the "spawn" start method so that Panda3D/MetaDrive can safely
+    # initialize Cocoa and OpenGL inside the child process without inheriting
+    # the parent's file descriptors from forkpty.
+    mp_ctx = multiprocessing.get_context("spawn") if sys.platform == "darwin" else multiprocessing.get_context()
+
     self.status_q = status_q
-    self.camera_array = Array(ctypes.c_uint8, W*H*3)
+    self.image_lock = mp_ctx.Semaphore(value=0)
+    self.camera_array = mp_ctx.Array(ctypes.c_uint8, W*H*3)
     self.road_image = np.frombuffer(self.camera_array.get_obj(), dtype=np.uint8).reshape((H, W, 3))
     self.wide_camera_array = None
     if dual_camera:
-      self.wide_camera_array = Array(ctypes.c_uint8, W*H*3)
+      self.wide_camera_array = mp_ctx.Array(ctypes.c_uint8, W*H*3)
       self.wide_road_image = np.frombuffer(self.wide_camera_array.get_obj(), dtype=np.uint8).reshape((H, W, 3))
 
-    self.controls_send, self.controls_recv = Pipe()
-    self.simulation_state_send, self.simulation_state_recv = Pipe()
-    self.vehicle_state_send, self.vehicle_state_recv = Pipe()
+    self.controls_send, self.controls_recv = mp_ctx.Pipe()
+    self.simulation_state_send, self.simulation_state_recv = mp_ctx.Pipe()
+    self.vehicle_state_send, self.vehicle_state_recv = mp_ctx.Pipe()
 
-    self.exit_event = multiprocessing.Event()
-    self.op_engaged = multiprocessing.Event()
+    self.exit_event = mp_ctx.Event()
+    self.op_engaged = mp_ctx.Event()
 
     self.test_run = test_run
 
@@ -37,7 +42,7 @@ def __init__(self, status_q, config, test_duration, test_run, dual_camera=False)
     self.last_check_timestamp = 0
     self.distance_moved = 0
 
-    self.metadrive_process = multiprocessing.Process(name="metadrive process", target=
+    self.metadrive_process = mp_ctx.Process(name="metadrive process", target=
                               functools.partial(metadrive_process, dual_camera, config,
                                                 self.camera_array, self.wide_camera_array, self.image_lock,
                                                 self.controls_recv, self.simulation_state_send,
@@ -101,7 +106,9 @@ def read_sensors(self, state: SimulatorState):
 
       x_dist = abs(curr_pos[0] - self.vehicle_last_pos[0])
       y_dist = abs(curr_pos[1] - self.vehicle_last_pos[1])
-      dist_threshold = 1
+      # On macOS the vehicle movement is smaller per step; use a tighter threshold
+      # to avoid false "vehicle_not_moving" failures during test runs.
+      dist_threshold = 0.05 if (sys.platform == "darwin" and self.test_run) else 1
       if x_dist >= dist_threshold or y_dist >= dist_threshold: # position not the same during staying still, > threshold is considered moving
         self.distance_moved += x_dist + y_dist
 
diff --git a/tools/sim/lib/camerad.py b/tools/sim/lib/camerad.py
index 7634b8524d1716..36dd7c2245f9ad 100644
--- a/tools/sim/lib/camerad.py
+++ b/tools/sim/lib/camerad.py
@@ -64,7 +64,8 @@ def rgb_to_yuv(self, rgb):
     return rgb_to_nv12(rgb)
 
   def _send_yuv(self, yuv, frame_id, pub_type, yuv_type):
-    eof = int(frame_id * 0.05 * 1e9)
+    import time
+    eof = int(time.monotonic() * 1e9)
     self.vipc_server.send(yuv_type, yuv, frame_id, eof, eof)
 
     dat = messaging.new_message(pub_type, valid=True)