diff --git a/pkg/control/server/BUILD b/pkg/control/server/BUILD
index 9dacc65b3..9f4592f73 100644
--- a/pkg/control/server/BUILD
+++ b/pkg/control/server/BUILD
@@ -10,9 +10,11 @@ go_library(
     srcs = ["server.go"],
     visibility = ["//:sandbox"],
     deps = [
+        "//pkg/abi/linux",
         "//pkg/log",
         "//pkg/sync",
         "//pkg/unet",
         "//pkg/urpc",
+        "@org_golang_x_sys//unix:go_default_library",
     ],
 )
diff --git a/pkg/control/server/server.go b/pkg/control/server/server.go
index ec6bb618f..906725a09 100644
--- a/pkg/control/server/server.go
+++ b/pkg/control/server/server.go
@@ -21,9 +21,13 @@ implementations of the control interface.
 package server
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"time"
 
+	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
+	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/abi/linux"
 	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/log"
 	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/sync"
 	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/unet"
@@ -143,17 +147,33 @@ func CreateFromFD(fd int) (*Server, error) {
 // with the given address, which must must be unique and a valid
 // abstract socket name.
 func Create(addr string) (*Server, error) {
-	socket, err := unet.Bind(addr, false)
+	socket, err := CreateSocket(addr)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	return New(socket), nil
+	return CreateFromFD(socket)
 }
 
 // CreateSocket creates a socket that can be used with control server,
 // but doesn't start control server.  'addr' must be a valid and unique
 // abstract socket name.  Returns socket's FD, -1 in case of error.
 func CreateSocket(addr string) (int, error) {
+	if addr[0] != 0 && len(addr) >= linux.UnixPathMax {
+		// This is not an abstract socket path. It is a filesystem path.
+		// UDS bind fails when the len(socket path) >= UNIX_PATH_MAX. Instead
+		// try opening the parent and attempt to shorten the path via procfs.
+		dirFD, err := unix.Open(filepath.Dir(addr), unix.O_RDONLY|unix.O_DIRECTORY, 0)
+		if err != nil {
+			return -1, fmt.Errorf("failed to open parent directory of %q", addr)
+		}
+		defer unix.Close(dirFD)
+		name := filepath.Base(addr)
+		addr = fmt.Sprintf("/proc/self/fd/%d/%s", dirFD, name)
+		if len(addr) >= linux.UnixPathMax {
+			// Urgh... This is just doomed to fail. Ask caller to use a shorter name.
+			return -1, fmt.Errorf("socket name %q is too long, use a shorter name", name)
+		}
+	}
 	socket, err := unet.Bind(addr, false)
 	if err != nil {
 		return -1, err
diff --git a/runsc/sandbox/BUILD b/runsc/sandbox/BUILD
index 23c2aee66..c1989d913 100644
--- a/runsc/sandbox/BUILD
+++ b/runsc/sandbox/BUILD
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ go_library(
         "//test:__subpackages__",
     ],
     deps = [
+        "//pkg/abi/linux",
         "//pkg/atomicbitops",
         "//pkg/cleanup",
         "//pkg/control/client",
diff --git a/runsc/sandbox/sandbox.go b/runsc/sandbox/sandbox.go
index 5d57d48bc..9e6f96358 100644
--- a/runsc/sandbox/sandbox.go
+++ b/runsc/sandbox/sandbox.go
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import (
 	specs "github.com/opencontainers/runtime-spec/specs-go"
 	"github.com/syndtr/gocapability/capability"
 	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
+	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/abi/linux"
 	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/atomicbitops"
 	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/cleanup"
 	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/control/client"
@@ -87,6 +88,7 @@ func createControlSocket(rootDir, id string) (string, int, error) {
 			log.Debugf("Using socket file %q", path)
 			return path, fd, nil
 		}
+		log.Debugf("Failed to create socket file %q: %v", path, err)
 	}
 	return "", -1, fmt.Errorf("unable to find location to write socket file")
 }
@@ -602,7 +604,19 @@ func (s *Sandbox) PortForward(opts *boot.PortForwardOpts) error {
 
 func (s *Sandbox) sandboxConnect() (*urpc.Client, error) {
 	log.Debugf("Connecting to sandbox %q", s.ID)
-	conn, err := client.ConnectTo(s.ControlAddress)
+	addr := s.ControlAddress
+	if addr[0] != 0 && len(addr) >= linux.UnixPathMax {
+		// This is not an abstract socket path. It is a filesystem path.
+		// UDS connect fails when the len(socket path) >= UNIX_PATH_MAX. Instead
+		// open the socket using open(2) and use /proc to refer to the open FD.
+		sockFD, err := unix.Open(addr, unix.O_PATH, 0)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to open socket at %q", addr)
+		}
+		defer unix.Close(sockFD)
+		addr = filepath.Join("/proc/self/fd", fmt.Sprintf("%d", sockFD))
+	}
+	conn, err := client.ConnectTo(addr)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, s.connError(err)
 	}