diff --git a/Lib/multiprocessing/context.py b/Lib/multiprocessing/context.py
index b1960ea296fe20..fb8654ecd12adb 100644
--- a/Lib/multiprocessing/context.py
+++ b/Lib/multiprocessing/context.py
@@ -177,12 +177,20 @@ def set_executable(self, executable):
         from .spawn import set_executable
         set_executable(executable)
 
-    def set_forkserver_preload(self, module_names):
+    def set_forkserver_preload(self, module_names, raise_exceptions=False):
         '''Set list of module names to try to load in forkserver process.
-        This is really just a hint.
+
+        If this method is not called, the default list of modules_names is
+        ['__main__']. In most scenarios, callers will want to specify '__main__'
+        as the first entry in modules_names when calling this method.
+
+        By default, any exceptions from importing the specified module names
+        are suppressed. Set raise_exceptions = True to not suppress. If an
+        exception is raised and not suppressed, the forkserver will exit and
+        new process creation will fail.
         '''
         from .forkserver import set_forkserver_preload
-        set_forkserver_preload(module_names)
+        set_forkserver_preload(module_names, raise_exceptions)
 
     def get_context(self, method=None):
         if method is None:
diff --git a/Lib/multiprocessing/forkserver.py b/Lib/multiprocessing/forkserver.py
index 22a911a7a29cdc..71877eb8b90bb5 100644
--- a/Lib/multiprocessing/forkserver.py
+++ b/Lib/multiprocessing/forkserver.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
+import base64
 import errno
+import json
 import os
 import selectors
 import signal
@@ -38,6 +40,7 @@ def __init__(self):
         self._inherited_fds = None
         self._lock = threading.Lock()
         self._preload_modules = ['__main__']
+        self._preload_modules_raise_exceptions = False
 
     def _stop(self):
         # Method used by unit tests to stop the server
@@ -59,11 +62,22 @@ def _stop_unlocked(self):
             os.unlink(self._forkserver_address)
         self._forkserver_address = None
 
-    def set_forkserver_preload(self, modules_names):
-        '''Set list of module names to try to load in forkserver process.'''
+    def set_forkserver_preload(self, modules_names, raise_exceptions = False):
+        '''Set list of module names to try to load in forkserver process.
+
+        If this method is not called, the default list of modules_names is
+        ['__main__']. In most scenarios, callers will want to specify '__main__'
+        as the first entry in modules_names when calling this method.
+
+        By default, any exceptions from importing the specified module names
+        are suppressed. Set raise_exceptions = True to not suppress. If an
+        exception is raised and not suppressed, the forkserver will exit and
+        new process creation will fail.
+        '''
         if not all(type(mod) is str for mod in self._preload_modules):
             raise TypeError('module_names must be a list of strings')
         self._preload_modules = modules_names
+        self._preload_modules_raise_exceptions = raise_exceptions
 
     def get_inherited_fds(self):
         '''Return list of fds inherited from parent process.
@@ -124,14 +138,19 @@ def ensure_running(self):
                 self._forkserver_pid = None
 
             cmd = ('from multiprocessing.forkserver import main; ' +
-                   'main(%d, %d, %r, **%r)')
+                   'main(%d, %d, %r, %r, %r)')
+
+            spawn_data = spawn.get_preparation_data('ignore')
 
-            if self._preload_modules:
-                desired_keys = {'main_path', 'sys_path'}
-                data = spawn.get_preparation_data('ignore')
-                data = {x: y for x, y in data.items() if x in desired_keys}
-            else:
-                data = {}
+            #The authkey cannot be serialized. so clear the value from get_preparation_data
+            spawn_data.pop('authkey',None)
+
+            #The forkserver itself uses the fork start_method, so clear the value from get_preparation_data
+            spawn_data.pop('start_method',None)
+
+            spawn_data_json = json.dumps(spawn_data)
+            prepare_data_base64_encoded = base64.b64encode(
+                    bytes(spawn_data_json,'utf-8')).decode()
 
             with socket.socket(socket.AF_UNIX) as listener:
                 address = connection.arbitrary_address('AF_UNIX')
@@ -146,7 +165,7 @@ def ensure_running(self):
                 try:
                     fds_to_pass = [listener.fileno(), alive_r]
                     cmd %= (listener.fileno(), alive_r, self._preload_modules,
-                            data)
+                            self._preload_modules_raise_exceptions, prepare_data_base64_encoded)
                     exe = spawn.get_executable()
                     args = [exe] + util._args_from_interpreter_flags()
                     args += ['-c', cmd]
@@ -164,20 +183,25 @@ def ensure_running(self):
 #
 #
 
-def main(listener_fd, alive_r, preload, main_path=None, sys_path=None):
+def main(listener_fd, alive_r, preload, raise_import_error, prepare_data_base64_encoded):
     '''Run forkserver.'''
     if preload:
-        if '__main__' in preload and main_path is not None:
+        if prepare_data_base64_encoded is not None:
+            prepare_data = json.loads(base64.b64decode(prepare_data_base64_encoded).decode('utf-8'))
+            if '__main__' not in preload:
+                prepare_data.pop('init_main_from_path',None)
+                prepare_data.pop('init_main_from_name',None)
             process.current_process()._inheriting = True
             try:
-                spawn.import_main_path(main_path)
+                spawn.prepare(prepare_data)
             finally:
                 del process.current_process()._inheriting
         for modname in preload:
             try:
                 __import__(modname)
             except ImportError:
-                pass
+                if raise_import_error:
+                    raise
 
     util._close_stdin()
 
@@ -262,6 +286,9 @@ def sigchld_handler(*_unused):
                                     len(fds)))
                         child_r, child_w, *fds = fds
                         s.close()
+                        #Failure to flush these before fork can leave data in the buffers
+                        #for unsuspecting children
+                        util._flush_std_streams()
                         pid = os.fork()
                         if pid == 0:
                             # Child
diff --git a/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py b/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py
index a66f4f5b897cd3..561882692db704 100644
--- a/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py
+++ b/Lib/test/_test_multiprocessing.py
@@ -5274,11 +5274,19 @@ def test_preload_resources(self):
         rc, out, err = test.support.script_helper.assert_python_ok(name)
         out = out.decode()
         err = err.decode()
-        if out.rstrip() != 'ok' or err != '':
-            print(out)
-            print(err)
+        expected = "mp_preload\nmp_preload\nmp_preload_import\nf\nf\nf"
+        if out.rstrip() != expected or err != '':
+            print("expected out: " + expected)
+            print("actual out  : " + out)
+            print("err         : " + err)
             self.fail("failed spawning forkserver or grandchild")
 
+    def test_preload_exception(self):
+        if multiprocessing.get_start_method() != 'forkserver':
+            self.skipTest("test only relevant for 'forkserver' method")
+        name = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'mp_preload_exception.py')
+        for raise_exception in [0,1]:
+            rc, out, err = test.support.script_helper.assert_python_ok(name, str(raise_exception))
 
 @unittest.skipIf(sys.platform == "win32",
                  "test semantics don't make sense on Windows")
diff --git a/Lib/test/mp_preload.py b/Lib/test/mp_preload.py
index 5314e8f0b21632..f542e95c7dd2c1 100644
--- a/Lib/test/mp_preload.py
+++ b/Lib/test/mp_preload.py
@@ -2,17 +2,32 @@
 
 multiprocessing.Lock()
 
-
+#
+# This test verifies that preload is behaving as expected. By preloading
+# both __main__ and mp_preload_import, both this module and mp_preload_import
+# should be loaded in the forkserver process when it serves new processes.
+# This means that each new process and call to f() will not cause additional
+# module loading.
+#
+# The expected output is then:
+# mp_preload
+# mp_preload
+# mp_preload_import
+# f
+# f
+# f
+#
+# Any deviation from this means something is broken.
+#
 def f():
-    print("ok")
-
+    import test.mp_preload_import
+    print('f')
 
+print("mp_preload")
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     ctx = multiprocessing.get_context("forkserver")
-    modname = "test.mp_preload"
-    # Make sure it's importable
-    __import__(modname)
-    ctx.set_forkserver_preload([modname])
-    proc = ctx.Process(target=f)
-    proc.start()
-    proc.join()
+    ctx.set_forkserver_preload(["__main__","test.mp_preload_import"], True)
+    for i in range(3):
+        proc = ctx.Process(target=f)
+        proc.start()
+        proc.join()
diff --git a/Lib/test/mp_preload_exception.py b/Lib/test/mp_preload_exception.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..88f66bea642f37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Lib/test/mp_preload_exception.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import multiprocessing
+import sys
+
+#
+# This test verifies that preload on a nonexistant module raises an exception
+# that eventually leads to any new process start failing, when we specify that
+# as the desired behavior.
+#
+
+def f():
+    print('f')
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    raise_exceptions = int(sys.argv[1])!=0
+    ctx = multiprocessing.get_context("forkserver")
+    ctx.set_forkserver_preload(["__main__","test.mp_preload_import_does_not_exist"], raise_exceptions)
+    proc = ctx.Process(target=f)
+    exception_thrown = False
+    try:
+        proc.start()
+        proc.join()
+    except Exception:
+        exception_thrown=True
+    if exception_thrown != raise_exceptions:
+        raise RuntimeError('Difference between exception_thrown and raise_exceptions')
+    print('done')
diff --git a/Lib/test/mp_preload_import.py b/Lib/test/mp_preload_import.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..0171f77647842d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Lib/test/mp_preload_import.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+print('mp_preload_import')
diff --git a/Misc/ACKS b/Misc/ACKS
index 5d97067b85d3d4..8a4218a16d7944 100644
--- a/Misc/ACKS
+++ b/Misc/ACKS
@@ -1264,6 +1264,7 @@ Trent Nelson
 Andrew Nester
 Osvaldo Santana Neto
 Chad Netzer
+Nick Neumann
 Max Neunhöffer
 Anthon van der Neut
 George Neville-Neil
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2022-11-15-11-38-06.gh-issue-98552.dfHWph.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2022-11-15-11-38-06.gh-issue-98552.dfHWph.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..abe50fa88f10e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Library/2022-11-15-11-38-06.gh-issue-98552.dfHWph.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Fix preloading ``__main__`` with forkserver, and other related forkserver
+issues