diff --git a/pkgs/by-name/bunpen/restrict/pasta.ha b/pkgs/by-name/bunpen/restrict/pasta.ha
index 49ef4b5e8..510da19e6 100644
--- a/pkgs/by-name/bunpen/restrict/pasta.ha
+++ b/pkgs/by-name/bunpen/restrict/pasta.ha
@@ -32,6 +32,11 @@ fn pasta_restrict(net: resources::net_subset) void = {
   // TODO: stronger isolation (mount namespace).
   // errors::ext::check("[namespace/pasta] unshare PID", rt::ext::unshare(rt::ext::clone_flag::NEWPID));
 
+  // grab a handle to the namespaces of the primary process.
+  // then we can fork, unshare net (in parent) and refer to that unshared netns
+  // in the child (pasta) via ${ns_fd}/net.
+  let ns_fd = errors::ext::check_int("setup_pasta: open /proc/self/ns", rt::open("/proc/self/ns", rt::O_RDONLY, 0o400));
+
   let (pipe_parent_rd, pipe_child_wr) = unix::pipe()!;
   let (pipe_child_rd, pipe_parent_wr) = unix::pipe()!;
   log::printfln("[namespace/pasta]: forking: child will launch pasta while parent will exec user code");
@@ -44,22 +49,12 @@ fn pasta_restrict(net: resources::net_subset) void = {
       errors::ext::check("namespace: unshare net", rt::ext::unshare(rt::ext::clone_flag::NEWNET));
       errors::ext::check("setup_pasta: config routing", config_routing_in_ns(net));
 
-      // open the net ns and share that with our child, who can then share it
-      // with pasta
-      let netns_fd = errors::ext::check_int("setup_pasta: open /proc/self/ns/net", rt::open("/proc/self/ns/net", rt::O_RDONLY, 0o400));
-
       // drop enough caps so that pasta has permissions to enter our new netns.
       // TODO: just set the desired caps here, and then don't try to do it again.
       capability_restrict(rt::ext::CAPS_NONE);
 
       // let the other thread know we're ready for pasta to attach to us
-      let netns_fd_bytes = [
-        netns_fd: u8,
-        (netns_fd >> 8): u8,
-        (netns_fd >> 16): u8,
-        (netns_fd >> 24): u8,
-      ];
-      io::write(pipe_parent_wr, netns_fd_bytes)!;
+      io::write(pipe_parent_wr, [1u8])!;
 
       // wait for the other thread to attach pasta.
       // pasta signals readiness by writing its pid (followed by \n) to a file.
@@ -75,28 +70,15 @@ fn pasta_restrict(net: resources::net_subset) void = {
       io::close(pipe_parent_wr)!;
       io::close(pipe_parent_rd)!;
 
-      let parent_pid = rt::getppid();
-      let parent_pidfd = errors::ext::check_int(
-        "setup_pasta: pidfd_open(parent_pid)",
-        rt::ext::pidfd_open(parent_pid),
-      );
-
       // wait for the parent to signal that it's ready for us to attach pasta.
-      let netns_child_fd_bytes: [4]u8 = [0...];
-      io::readall(pipe_child_rd, &netns_child_fd_bytes)!;
-      let netns_child_fd: int = (
-        (netns_child_fd_bytes[0]: int) |
-        (netns_child_fd_bytes[1]: int << 8) |
-        (netns_child_fd_bytes[1]: int << 16) |
-        (netns_child_fd_bytes[1]: int << 24)
-      );
-      let netns = errors::ext::check_int(
-        "setup_pasta: pidfd_getfd(parent_pidfd, netns_u8)",
-        rt::ext::pidfd_getfd(parent_pidfd, netns_child_fd),
-      );
+      io::readall(pipe_child_rd, &[0u8])!;
 
       // exec into pasta.
-      errors::ext::check("setup_pasta: attach", attach_pasta(net, netns, pipe_child_wr));
+      let netns_fd = errors::ext::check_int(
+        "setup_pasta: open('/proc/self/ns/net')",
+        rt::openat2(ns_fd, "net", &rt::open_how { ... }, size(rt::open_how)),
+      );
+      errors::ext::check("setup_pasta: attach", attach_pasta(net, netns_fd, pipe_child_wr));
 
       // XXX: this code below never actually gets run
       // cleanup: we're done with the pipes