diff --git a/comet/models/base.py b/comet/models/base.py
index 9872d2b7..e3aed878 100644
--- a/comet/models/base.py
+++ b/comet/models/base.py
@@ -622,7 +622,11 @@ def predict(
             sampler=sampler,
             collate_fn=self.prepare_for_inference,
             num_workers=num_workers,
-            multiprocessing_context="fork" if torch.backends.mps.is_available() else None,
+            multiprocessing_context=(
+                "fork"
+                if num_workers > 0 and torch.backends.mps.is_available()
+                else None
+            ),
         )
         if gpus > 1:
             pred_writer = CustomWriter()
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_predict_dataloader_context.py b/tests/unit/test_predict_dataloader_context.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..be07261a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/test_predict_dataloader_context.py
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+"""Exercise predict's real DataLoader without models or accelerator hardware."""
+
+import os
+import unittest
+from contextlib import ExitStack
+from unittest.mock import Mock, patch
+
+import torch
+from comet.models.base import CometModel
+from torch.utils.data import DataLoader
+
+
+@unittest.skipUnless(os.name == "posix", "MPS worker setup uses POSIX fork")
+class TestPredictDataLoaderContext(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_context_matches_worker_configuration(self):
+        cases = [
+            # MPS availability, GPUs, requested workers, resolved workers, context
+            (True, 0, None, 0, None),
+            (True, 1, 0, 0, None),
+            (True, 0, 2, 2, "fork"),
+            (True, 1, None, 2, "fork"),
+            (False, 0, None, 0, None),
+            (False, 1, 0, 0, None),
+            (False, 0, 2, 2, None),
+            (False, 1, None, 2, None),
+        ]
+        samples = [{"src": "source", "mt": "translation", "ref": "reference"}]
+        for mps, gpus, workers, expected_workers, expected_context in cases:
+            with self.subTest(mps=mps, gpus=gpus, workers=workers):
+                model = Mock()
+                with ExitStack() as stack:
+                    stack.enter_context(
+                        patch(
+                            "comet.models.base.torch.backends.mps.is_available",
+                            return_value=mps,
+                        )
+                    )
+                    loader_factory = stack.enter_context(
+                        patch("comet.models.base.DataLoader", wraps=DataLoader)
+                    )
+                    trainer_factory = stack.enter_context(
+                        patch("comet.models.base.ptl.Trainer")
+                    )
+                    trainer_factory.return_value.predict.return_value = [
+                        {"scores": torch.tensor([0.75])}
+                    ]
+                    output = CometModel.predict(
+                        model,
+                        samples,
+                        gpus=gpus,
+                        num_workers=workers,
+                        progress_bar=False,
+                        length_batching=False,
+                    )
+
+                kwargs = loader_factory.call_args.kwargs
+                self.assertEqual(kwargs["num_workers"], expected_workers)
+                self.assertEqual(
+                    kwargs["multiprocessing_context"], expected_context
+                )
+                loader = trainer_factory.return_value.predict.call_args.kwargs[
+                    "dataloaders"
+                ]
+                self.assertIsInstance(loader, DataLoader)
+                context = loader.multiprocessing_context
+                self.assertEqual(
+                    context.get_start_method() if context else None,
+                    expected_context,
+                )
+                self.assertEqual(output.scores, [0.75])
+                self.assertEqual(output.system_score, 0.75)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()