diff --git a/lib/internal/test_runner/test.js b/lib/internal/test_runner/test.js
index 2a25207227314f..7b5c00905eefbe 100644
--- a/lib/internal/test_runner/test.js
+++ b/lib/internal/test_runner/test.js
@@ -230,9 +230,8 @@ class Test extends AsyncResource {
     if (parent === null) {
       this.concurrency = 1;
       this.nesting = 0;
-      this.only = testOnlyFlag;
       this.reporter = new TestsStream();
-      this.runOnlySubtests = this.only;
+      this.runOnlySubtests = testOnlyFlag;
       this.testNumber = 0;
       this.timeout = kDefaultTimeout;
       this.root = this;
@@ -249,9 +248,8 @@ class Test extends AsyncResource {
 
       this.concurrency = parent.concurrency;
       this.nesting = nesting;
-      this.only = only ?? !parent.runOnlySubtests;
       this.reporter = parent.reporter;
-      this.runOnlySubtests = !this.only;
+      this.runOnlySubtests = false;
       this.testNumber = parent.subtests.length + 1;
       this.timeout = parent.timeout;
       this.root = parent.root;
@@ -296,10 +294,6 @@ class Test extends AsyncResource {
       skip = 'test name does not match pattern';
     }
 
-    if (testOnlyFlag && !this.only) {
-      skip = '\'only\' option not set';
-    }
-
     if (skip) {
       fn = noop;
     }
@@ -338,10 +332,11 @@ class Test extends AsyncResource {
     this.subtests = [];
     this.waitingOn = 0;
     this.finished = false;
+    this.only = testOnlyFlag || parent?.runOnlySubtests ? only : undefined;
 
-    if (!testOnlyFlag && (only || this.runOnlySubtests)) {
-      const warning =
-        "'only' and 'runOnly' require the --test-only command-line option.";
+
+    if (!testOnlyFlag && only && !parent.runOnlySubtests) {
+      const warning = "'only' requires the --test-only command-line option.";
       this.diagnostic(warning);
     }
 
@@ -355,6 +350,18 @@ class Test extends AsyncResource {
         file: loc[2],
       };
     }
+
+    if (this.only && parent !== null) {
+      parent.markOnly();
+    }
+  }
+
+  markOnly() {
+    if (this.runOnlySubtests) {
+      return;
+    }
+    this.runOnlySubtests = true;
+    this.parent?.markOnly();
   }
 
   matchesTestNamePatterns() {
@@ -580,9 +587,18 @@ class Test extends AsyncResource {
     }
   }
 
+  get runOnlySibling() {
+    return this.parent?.runOnlySubtests && !this.only && !this.runOnlySubtests;
+  }
+
   async run() {
     this.startTime = hrtime();
 
+    if (this.runOnlySibling || this.only === false) {
+      this.fn = noop;
+      this.skip('\'only\' option not set');
+    }
+
     if (this[kShouldAbort]()) {
       this.postRun();
       return;
@@ -893,7 +909,6 @@ class Suite extends Test {
       this.fn = options.fn || this.fn;
       this.skipped = false;
     }
-    this.runOnlySubtests = testOnlyFlag;
 
     try {
       const { ctx, args } = this.getRunArgs();
@@ -915,7 +930,7 @@ class Suite extends Test {
 
       this.buildPhaseFinished = true;
     }
-    this.fn = () => {};
+    this.fn = noop;
   }
 
   getRunArgs() {
@@ -932,6 +947,7 @@ class Suite extends Test {
 
   async run() {
     const hookArgs = this.getRunArgs();
+    this.runOnlySubtests ||= this.runOnlySibling;
 
     let stopPromise;
     try {
diff --git a/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/only_tests.js b/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/only_tests.js
index 26266b524454b7..cac152578dfc6b 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/only_tests.js
+++ b/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/only_tests.js
@@ -1,100 +1,96 @@
 // Flags: --test-only
 'use strict';
-require('../../../common');
+const common = require('../../../common');
 const { test, describe, it } = require('node:test');
 
 // These tests should be skipped based on the 'only' option.
-test('only = undefined');
-test('only = undefined, skip = string', { skip: 'skip message' });
-test('only = undefined, skip = true', { skip: true });
-test('only = undefined, skip = false', { skip: false });
-test('only = false', { only: false });
-test('only = false, skip = string', { only: false, skip: 'skip message' });
-test('only = false, skip = true', { only: false, skip: true });
-test('only = false, skip = false', { only: false, skip: false });
+test('only = undefined', common.mustNotCall());
+test('only = undefined, skip = string', { skip: 'skip message' }, common.mustNotCall());
+test('only = undefined, skip = true', { skip: true }, common.mustNotCall());
+test('only = undefined, skip = false', { skip: false }, common.mustNotCall());
+test('only = false', { only: false }, common.mustNotCall());
+test('only = false, skip = string', { only: false, skip: 'skip message' }, common.mustNotCall());
+test('only = false, skip = true', { only: false, skip: true }, common.mustNotCall());
+test('only = false, skip = false', { only: false, skip: false }, common.mustNotCall());
 
 // These tests should be skipped based on the 'skip' option.
-test('only = true, skip = string', { only: true, skip: 'skip message' });
-test('only = true, skip = true', { only: true, skip: true });
+test('only = true, skip = string', { only: true, skip: 'skip message' }, common.mustNotCall());
+test('only = true, skip = true', { only: true, skip: true }, common.mustNotCall());
 
 // An 'only' test with subtests.
-test('only = true, with subtests', { only: true }, async (t) => {
+test('only = true, with subtests', { only: true }, common.mustCall(async (t) => {
   // These subtests should run.
-  await t.test('running subtest 1');
-  await t.test('running subtest 2');
+  await t.test('running subtest 1', common.mustCall());
+  await t.test('running subtest 2', common.mustCall());
 
   // Switch the context to only execute 'only' tests.
   t.runOnly(true);
-  await t.test('skipped subtest 1');
-  await t.test('skipped subtest 2');
-  await t.test('running subtest 3', { only: true });
+  await t.test('skipped subtest 1', common.mustNotCall());
+  await t.test('skipped subtest 2'), common.mustNotCall();
+  await t.test('running subtest 3', { only: true }, common.mustCall());
 
   // Switch the context back to execute all tests.
   t.runOnly(false);
-  await t.test('running subtest 4', async (t) => {
+  await t.test('running subtest 4', common.mustCall(async (t) => {
     // These subtests should run.
-    await t.test('running sub-subtest 1');
-    await t.test('running sub-subtest 2');
+    await t.test('running sub-subtest 1', common.mustCall());
+    await t.test('running sub-subtest 2', common.mustCall());
 
     // Switch the context to only execute 'only' tests.
     t.runOnly(true);
-    await t.test('skipped sub-subtest 1');
-    await t.test('skipped sub-subtest 2');
-  });
+    await t.test('skipped sub-subtest 1', common.mustNotCall());
+    await t.test('skipped sub-subtest 2', common.mustNotCall());
+  }));
 
   // Explicitly do not run these tests.
-  await t.test('skipped subtest 3', { only: false });
-  await t.test('skipped subtest 4', { skip: true });
-});
+  await t.test('skipped subtest 3', { only: false }, common.mustNotCall());
+  await t.test('skipped subtest 4', { skip: true }, common.mustNotCall());
+}));
 
-describe.only('describe only = true, with subtests', () => {
-  it.only('`it` subtest 1 should run', () => {});
+describe.only('describe only = true, with subtests', common.mustCall(() => {
+  it.only('`it` subtest 1 should run', common.mustCall());
 
-  it('`it` subtest 2 should not run', async () => {});
-});
+  it('`it` subtest 2 should not run', common.mustNotCall());
+}));
 
-describe.only('describe only = true, with a mixture of subtests', () => {
-  it.only('`it` subtest 1', () => {});
+describe.only('describe only = true, with a mixture of subtests', common.mustCall(() => {
+  it.only('`it` subtest 1', common.mustCall());
 
-  it.only('`it` async subtest 1', async () => {});
+  it.only('`it` async subtest 1', common.mustCall(async () => {}));
 
-  it('`it` subtest 2 only=true', { only: true });
+  it('`it` subtest 2 only=true', { only: true }, common.mustCall());
 
-  it('`it` subtest 2 only=false', { only: false }, () => {
-    throw new Error('This should not run');
-  });
+  it('`it` subtest 2 only=false', { only: false }, common.mustNotCall());
 
-  it.skip('`it` subtest 3 skip', () => {
-    throw new Error('This should not run');
-  });
+  it.skip('`it` subtest 3 skip', common.mustNotCall());
 
-  it.todo('`it` subtest 4 todo', { only: false }, () => {
-    throw new Error('This should not run');
-  });
+  it.todo('`it` subtest 4 todo', { only: false }, common.mustNotCall());
 
-  test.only('`test` subtest 1', () => {});
+  test.only('`test` subtest 1', common.mustCall());
 
-  test.only('`test` async subtest 1', async () => {});
+  test.only('`test` async subtest 1', common.mustCall(async () => {}));
 
-  test('`test` subtest 2 only=true', { only: true });
+  test('`test` subtest 2 only=true', { only: true }, common.mustCall());
 
-  test('`test` subtest 2 only=false', { only: false }, () => {
-    throw new Error('This should not run');
-  });
+  test('`test` subtest 2 only=false', { only: false }, common.mustNotCall());
 
-  test.skip('`test` subtest 3 skip', () => {
-    throw new Error('This should not run');
-  });
+  test.skip('`test` subtest 3 skip', common.mustNotCall());
 
-  test.todo('`test` subtest 4 todo', { only: false }, () => {
-    throw new Error('This should not run');
-  });
-});
+  test.todo('`test` subtest 4 todo', { only: false }, common.mustNotCall());
+}));
 
-describe.only('describe only = true, with subtests', () => {
-  test.only('subtest should run', () => {});
+describe.only('describe only = true, with subtests', common.mustCall(() => {
+  test.only('subtest should run', common.mustCall());
 
-  test('async subtest should not run', async () => {});
+  test('async subtest should not run', common.mustNotCall());
 
-  test('subtest should be skipped', { only: false }, () => {});
-});
+  test('subtest should be skipped', { only: false }, common.mustNotCall());
+}));
+
+describe('describe only = undefined, with subtests', common.mustCall(() => {
+  test('async subtest should not run', common.mustNotCall());
+}));
+
+describe('describe only = false, with subtests', { only: false }, common.mustCall(() => {
+  test('async subtest should not run', common.mustNotCall());
+}));
diff --git a/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/only_tests.snapshot b/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/only_tests.snapshot
index ded19f3bec4c6a..de6251f29d9ef2 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/only_tests.snapshot
+++ b/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/only_tests.snapshot
@@ -222,12 +222,36 @@ ok 14 - describe only = true, with subtests
   duration_ms: *
   type: 'suite'
   ...
-1..14
-# tests 40
-# suites 3
+# Subtest: describe only = undefined, with subtests
+    # Subtest: async subtest should not run
+    ok 1 - async subtest should not run # SKIP 'only' option not set
+      ---
+      duration_ms: *
+      ...
+    1..1
+ok 15 - describe only = undefined, with subtests
+  ---
+  duration_ms: *
+  type: 'suite'
+  ...
+# Subtest: describe only = false, with subtests
+    # Subtest: async subtest should not run
+    ok 1 - async subtest should not run # SKIP 'only' option not set
+      ---
+      duration_ms: *
+      ...
+    1..1
+ok 16 - describe only = false, with subtests
+  ---
+  duration_ms: *
+  type: 'suite'
+  ...
+1..16
+# tests 42
+# suites 5
 # pass 15
 # fail 0
 # cancelled 0
-# skipped 25
+# skipped 27
 # todo 0
 # duration_ms *
diff --git a/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/output.js b/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/output.js
index f37d3495030950..de7c220d7be595 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/output.js
+++ b/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/output.js
@@ -274,11 +274,11 @@ test('callback async throw after done', (t, done) => {
   done();
 });
 
-test('only is set but not in only mode', { only: true }, async (t) => {
-  // All of these subtests should run.
+test('runOnly is set', async (t) => {
+  // Subtests should run only outside of a runOnly block, unless they have only: true.
   await t.test('running subtest 1');
   t.runOnly(true);
-  await t.test('running subtest 2');
+  await t.test('skipped subtest 2');
   await t.test('running subtest 3', { only: true });
   t.runOnly(false);
   await t.test('running subtest 4');
diff --git a/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/output.snapshot b/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/output.snapshot
index 3a8ee2934389b7..cbd2ced1235f05 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/output.snapshot
+++ b/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/output.snapshot
@@ -499,35 +499,32 @@ ok 48 - callback async throw after done
   ---
   duration_ms: *
   ...
-# Subtest: only is set but not in only mode
+# Subtest: runOnly is set
     # Subtest: running subtest 1
     ok 1 - running subtest 1
       ---
       duration_ms: *
       ...
-    # Subtest: running subtest 2
-    ok 2 - running subtest 2
+    # Subtest: skipped subtest 2
+    ok 2 - skipped subtest 2 # SKIP 'only' option not set
       ---
       duration_ms: *
       ...
-    # 'only' and 'runOnly' require the --test-only command-line option.
     # Subtest: running subtest 3
     ok 3 - running subtest 3
       ---
       duration_ms: *
       ...
-    # 'only' and 'runOnly' require the --test-only command-line option.
     # Subtest: running subtest 4
     ok 4 - running subtest 4
       ---
       duration_ms: *
       ...
     1..4
-ok 49 - only is set but not in only mode
+ok 49 - runOnly is set
   ---
   duration_ms: *
   ...
-# 'only' and 'runOnly' require the --test-only command-line option.
 # Subtest: custom inspect symbol fail
 not ok 50 - custom inspect symbol fail
   ---
@@ -733,9 +730,9 @@ not ok 62 - invalid subtest fail
 # Warning: Test "callback async throw after done" generated asynchronous activity after the test ended. This activity created the error "Error: thrown from callback async throw after done" and would have caused the test to fail, but instead triggered an uncaughtException event.
 # tests 76
 # suites 0
-# pass 35
+# pass 34
 # fail 25
 # cancelled 3
-# skipped 9
+# skipped 10
 # todo 4
 # duration_ms *
diff --git a/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/output_cli.snapshot b/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/output_cli.snapshot
index 22da6e1d476ff7..e602dda9416590 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/output_cli.snapshot
+++ b/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/output_cli.snapshot
@@ -499,35 +499,32 @@ ok 48 - callback async throw after done
   ---
   duration_ms: *
   ...
-# Subtest: only is set but not in only mode
+# Subtest: runOnly is set
     # Subtest: running subtest 1
     ok 1 - running subtest 1
       ---
       duration_ms: *
       ...
-    # Subtest: running subtest 2
-    ok 2 - running subtest 2
+    # Subtest: skipped subtest 2
+    ok 2 - skipped subtest 2 # SKIP 'only' option not set
       ---
       duration_ms: *
       ...
-    # 'only' and 'runOnly' require the --test-only command-line option.
     # Subtest: running subtest 3
     ok 3 - running subtest 3
       ---
       duration_ms: *
       ...
-    # 'only' and 'runOnly' require the --test-only command-line option.
     # Subtest: running subtest 4
     ok 4 - running subtest 4
       ---
       duration_ms: *
       ...
     1..4
-ok 49 - only is set but not in only mode
+ok 49 - runOnly is set
   ---
   duration_ms: *
   ...
-# 'only' and 'runOnly' require the --test-only command-line option.
 # Subtest: custom inspect symbol fail
 not ok 50 - custom inspect symbol fail
   ---
@@ -738,9 +735,9 @@ ok 63 - last test
 1..63
 # tests 77
 # suites 0
-# pass 36
+# pass 35
 # fail 25
 # cancelled 3
-# skipped 9
+# skipped 10
 # todo 4
 # duration_ms *
diff --git a/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/spec_reporter.snapshot b/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/spec_reporter.snapshot
index 3ceeee649bb99b..4511fa5b434243 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/spec_reporter.snapshot
+++ b/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/spec_reporter.snapshot
@@ -214,16 +214,13 @@
       *
 
  callback async throw after done (*ms)
- only is set but not in only mode
+ runOnly is set
    running subtest 1 (*ms)
-   running subtest 2 (*ms)
-   'only' and 'runOnly' require the --test-only command-line option.
+   skipped subtest 2 (*ms) # 'only' option not set
    running subtest 3 (*ms)
-   'only' and 'runOnly' require the --test-only command-line option.
    running subtest 4 (*ms)
- only is set but not in only mode (*ms)
+ runOnly is set (*ms)
 
- 'only' and 'runOnly' require the --test-only command-line option.
  custom inspect symbol fail (*ms)
   customized
 
@@ -317,10 +314,10 @@
  Warning: Test "callback async throw after done" generated asynchronous activity after the test ended. This activity created the error "Error: thrown from callback async throw after done" and would have caused the test to fail, but instead triggered an uncaughtException event.
  tests 76
  suites 0
- pass 35
+ pass 34
  fail 25
  cancelled 3
- skipped 9
+ skipped 10
  todo 4
  duration_ms *
 
diff --git a/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/spec_reporter_cli.snapshot b/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/spec_reporter_cli.snapshot
index bb6c18d7b73dea..e78b1cf1a0df96 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/spec_reporter_cli.snapshot
+++ b/test/fixtures/test-runner/output/spec_reporter_cli.snapshot
@@ -214,16 +214,13 @@
       *
 
  callback async throw after done (*ms)
- only is set but not in only mode
+ runOnly is set
    running subtest 1 (*ms)
-   running subtest 2 (*ms)
-   'only' and 'runOnly' require the --test-only command-line option.
+   skipped subtest 2 (*ms) # 'only' option not set
    running subtest 3 (*ms)
-   'only' and 'runOnly' require the --test-only command-line option.
    running subtest 4 (*ms)
- only is set but not in only mode (*ms)
+ runOnly is set (*ms)
 
- 'only' and 'runOnly' require the --test-only command-line option.
  custom inspect symbol fail (*ms)
   customized
 
@@ -317,10 +314,10 @@
  Warning: Test "callback async throw after done" generated asynchronous activity after the test ended. This activity created the error "Error: thrown from callback async throw after done" and would have caused the test to fail, but instead triggered an uncaughtException event.
  tests 76
  suites 0
- pass 35
+ pass 34
  fail 25
  cancelled 3
- skipped 9
+ skipped 10
  todo 4
  duration_ms *