diff --git a/feature/tpm/swtpm_test.go b/feature/tpm/swtpm_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..28d78d088
--- /dev/null
+++ b/feature/tpm/swtpm_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,462 @@
+// Copyright (c) Tailscale Inc & AUTHORS
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-3-Clause
+
+//go:build linux && ts_swtpm
+
+package tpm
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	crand "crypto/rand"
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strconv"
+	"syscall"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/google/go-tpm/tpm2"
+	"github.com/google/go-tpm/tpm2/transport/linuxtpm"
+)
+
+// swtpmBinary is the name of the swtpm executable to use
+const swtpmBinary = "swtpm"
+const example32ByteKey = "12345678901234567890123456789012"
+
+type swtpm struct {
+	dataDir    string
+	deviceName string
+	devicePath string
+	pidFile    string
+	opts       *swtpmOptions
+	t          testing.TB
+}
+
+func newSWTPM(t testing.TB, opts ...swtpmOption) *swtpm {
+	t.Helper()
+	options := &swtpmOptions{
+		version: "2.0",
+	}
+
+	for _, opt := range opts {
+		opt(options)
+	}
+
+	dataDir := t.TempDir()
+
+	suffix := make([]byte, 8)
+	if _, err := crand.Read(suffix); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to generate random suffix: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// use unique per-test vtpm device names to avoid conflicts
+	deviceName := fmt.Sprintf("vtpm-%d-%s", time.Now().UnixNano(), hex.EncodeToString(suffix))
+	devicePath := filepath.Join("/dev", deviceName)
+	pidFile := filepath.Join(dataDir, "swtpm.pid")
+
+	s := &swtpm{
+		dataDir:    dataDir,
+		deviceName: deviceName,
+		devicePath: devicePath,
+		pidFile:    pidFile,
+		opts:       options,
+		t:          t,
+	}
+	s.t.Logf("created swtpm with device %s, data dir %s", deviceName, dataDir)
+
+	if err := s.start(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to start swtpm: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		s.stop()
+	})
+
+	return s
+}
+
+// runSetup initializes the TPM state using swtpm_setup
+func (s *swtpm) runSetup() error {
+	args := []string{
+		"--tpmstate", s.dataDir,
+	}
+
+	switch s.opts.version {
+	case "1.2":
+		// TPM 1.2 is the default for swtpm_setup, no flag needed
+	case "2.0":
+		args = append(args, "--tpm2")
+	default:
+		s.t.Fatalf("unsupported swtpm version for setup: %q", s.opts.version)
+	}
+
+	fullArgs := append([]string{"swtpm_setup"}, args...)
+	cmd := exec.Command("sudo", fullArgs...)
+	s.t.Logf("running swtpm_setup with args: %v", args)
+	output, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("swtpm_setup failed: %w: %s", err, output)
+	} else {
+		s.t.Logf("swtpm_setup output: %s", output)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// start launches the swtpm process with the configured options
+func (s *swtpm) start() error {
+	// init state if requested
+	if s.opts.withSetup {
+		if err := s.runSetup(); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("swtpm_setup failed: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	args := []string{
+		"cuse",
+		"--tpmstate", fmt.Sprintf("dir=%s", s.dataDir),
+		"--name", s.deviceName,
+		"--pid", fmt.Sprintf("file=%s", s.pidFile),
+	}
+
+	switch s.opts.version {
+	case "1.2":
+	case "2.0":
+		args = append(args, "--tpm2")
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("unsupported swtpm version: %s", s.opts.version)
+	}
+
+	// when using swtpm_setup, we need to tell swtpm to send TPM2_Startup(CLEAR)
+	if s.opts.withSetup {
+		args = append(args, "--flags", "startup-clear")
+	}
+
+	if s.opts.flags != nil {
+		args = append(args, s.opts.flags...)
+	}
+
+	fullArgs := append([]string{swtpmBinary}, args...)
+	cmd := exec.Command("sudo", fullArgs...)
+	out, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to start swtpm with args %v: %w: %s", args, err, out)
+	} else {
+		s.t.Logf("swtpm started with args %v output: %s", args, out)
+	}
+
+	s.t.Logf("waiting for swtpm device at %s", s.devicePath)
+	if err := s.waitForDevice(); err != nil {
+		s.stop()
+		return fmt.Errorf("swtpm device not available: %w", err)
+	} else {
+		s.t.Logf("swtpm device available at %s", s.devicePath)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// waitForDevice waits for the swtpm character device to be created
+func (s *swtpm) waitForDevice() error {
+	timeout := time.After(5 * time.Second)
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(50 * time.Millisecond)
+	defer ticker.Stop()
+
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-timeout:
+			return fmt.Errorf("timeout waiting for device at %s", s.devicePath)
+		case <-ticker.C:
+			if _, err := os.Stat(s.devicePath); err == nil {
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// stop terminates the swtpm process and cleans up resources
+func (s *swtpm) stop() {
+	pidBytes, err := os.ReadFile(s.pidFile)
+	if err != nil {
+		s.t.Logf("failed to read swtpm pid file %s: %v", s.pidFile, err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	var pid int
+	pid, err = strconv.Atoi(string(bytes.TrimSpace(pidBytes)))
+	if err != nil {
+		s.t.Logf("failed to parse swtpm pid %q: %v", string(pidBytes), err)
+		return
+	}
+	var process *os.Process
+	process, err = os.FindProcess(pid)
+	if err != nil {
+		s.t.Logf("failed to find swtpm process with pid %d: %v", pid, err)
+		return
+	}
+	if err := process.Signal(syscall.SIGTERM); err != nil {
+		s.t.Logf("failed to send SIGTERM to swtpm PID %d: %v", pid, err)
+		return
+	}
+	s.t.Logf("sent SIGTERM to swtpm PID %d", pid)
+
+	done := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() {
+		_, err := process.Wait()
+		done <- err
+	}()
+
+	select {
+	case err := <-done:
+		if err != nil {
+			s.t.Logf("swtpm PID %d exited with error: %v", pid, err)
+		} else {
+			s.t.Logf("swtpm PID %d exited after SIGTERM", pid)
+		}
+	case <-time.After(2 * time.Second):
+		s.t.Fatalf("timed out waiting for process %d to terminate", pid)
+	}
+}
+
+// DevicePath returns the path to the swtpm character device
+func (s *swtpm) DevicePath() string {
+	return s.devicePath
+}
+
+type swtpmOptions struct {
+	version   string
+	flags     []string
+	withSetup bool
+}
+
+type swtpmOption func(*swtpmOptions)
+
+// withSetup enables TPM initialization via swtpm_setup
+func withSetup() swtpmOption {
+	return func(o *swtpmOptions) {
+		o.withSetup = true
+	}
+}
+
+// withSwtpmVersion sets the TPM version (either "1.2" or "2.0")
+func withSwtpmVersion(version string) swtpmOption {
+	return func(o *swtpmOptions) {
+		o.version = version
+	}
+}
+
+// withTPM12 configures swtpm to use TPM 1.2
+func withTPM12() swtpmOption {
+	return withSwtpmVersion("1.2")
+}
+
+// withTPM20 configures swtpm to use TPM 2.0 (default)
+func withTPM20() swtpmOption {
+	return withSwtpmVersion("2.0")
+}
+
+// checkSWTPMAvailable checks if swtpm is available and errors if not
+func checkSWTPMAvailable(t testing.TB) {
+	t.Helper()
+	p, err := exec.LookPath(swtpmBinary)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("swtpm binary not found in PATH: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	// ensure version 0.10.1
+	cmd := exec.Command(p, "--version")
+	output, err := cmd.CombinedOutput()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to execute swtpm --version: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	if !bytes.HasPrefix(output, []byte("TPM emulator version 0.10.1")) {
+		t.Fatalf("swtpm version is not compatible: %s", output)
+		return
+	}
+
+	// ensure that we can run swtpm with sudo non-interactive (necessary to create CUSE devices)
+	cmd = exec.Command("sudo", "-n", p, "cuse", "--help")
+	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("swtpm cannot be run with sudo without password prompt: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSWTPM_Integration(t *testing.T) {
+	checkSWTPMAvailable(t)
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		opts    []swtpmOption
+		wantErr bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:    "broken-1.2-no-setup",
+			opts:    []swtpmOption{withTPM12()},
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "broken-2.0-no-setup",
+			opts:    []swtpmOption{withTPM20()},
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "working-2.0",
+			opts: []swtpmOption{withTPM20(), withSetup()},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			swtpm := newSWTPM(t, tt.opts...)
+			devicePath := swtpm.DevicePath()
+
+			if _, err := os.Stat(devicePath); err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("swtpm device does not exist at %s: %v", devicePath, err)
+			}
+
+			tpmDev, err := linuxtpm.Open(devicePath)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("linuxtpm.Open(%s) failed: %v", devicePath, err)
+			}
+			defer tpmDev.Close()
+
+			err = withSRK(t.Logf, tpmDev, func(srk tpm2.AuthHandle) error {
+				t.Logf("Successfully loaded SRK with handle: %v", srk.Handle)
+				return nil
+			})
+
+			if tt.wantErr != (err != nil) {
+				t.Errorf("withSRK() error = %v, wantErr = %v", err, tt.wantErr)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSWTPM_SealUnseal(t *testing.T) {
+	checkSWTPMAvailable(t)
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		opts    []swtpmOption
+		data    []byte
+		wantErr bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:    "1.2-fail-no-setup",
+			opts:    []swtpmOption{withTPM12()},
+			data:    []byte(example32ByteKey),
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "1.2-fail-32-byte-key",
+			opts:    []swtpmOption{withTPM12(), withSetup()},
+			data:    []byte(example32ByteKey),
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "2.0-seal-fail-no-setup",
+			opts:    []swtpmOption{withTPM20()},
+			data:    []byte("test data"),
+			wantErr: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "2.0-seal-unseal-32-byte-key",
+			opts:    []swtpmOption{withTPM20(), withSetup()},
+			data:    []byte(example32ByteKey),
+			wantErr: false,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			swtpm := newSWTPM(t, tt.opts...)
+			devicePath := swtpm.DevicePath()
+
+			tpmDev, err := linuxtpm.Open(devicePath)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("linuxtpm.Open(%s) failed: %v", devicePath, err)
+			}
+			defer tpmDev.Close()
+
+			sealed, err := tpmSealWithTPM(t.Logf, tpmDev, tt.data)
+			if tt.wantErr {
+				if err == nil {
+					t.Errorf("tpmSealWithTPM() expected error, got nil")
+				}
+				return
+			}
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("tpmSealWithTPM() failed: %v", err)
+			}
+
+			if sealed == nil {
+				t.Fatal("tpmSealWithTPM() returned nil sealed data")
+			}
+			if len(sealed.Private) == 0 {
+				t.Error("sealed.Private is empty")
+			}
+			if len(sealed.Public) == 0 {
+				t.Error("sealed.Public is empty")
+			}
+
+			unsealed, err := tpmUnsealWithTPM(t.Logf, tpmDev, sealed)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("tpmUnsealWithTPM() failed: %v", err)
+			}
+
+			if !bytes.Equal(unsealed, tt.data) {
+				t.Errorf("unsealed data mismatch:\ngot:  %q\nwant: %q", unsealed, tt.data)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSWTPM_SealUnsealCrossDevice(t *testing.T) {
+	checkSWTPMAvailable(t)
+
+	swtpm1 := newSWTPM(t, withTPM20(), withSetup())
+	tpmDev1, err := linuxtpm.Open(swtpm1.DevicePath())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("linuxtpm.Open(%s) failed: %v", swtpm1.DevicePath(), err)
+	}
+	defer tpmDev1.Close()
+
+	logf := func(format string, args ...any) {
+		t.Logf(format, args...)
+	}
+
+	testData := []byte("TPM1 secret data")
+	sealed, err := tpmSealWithTPM(logf, tpmDev1, testData)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("tpmSealWithTPM() on first device failed: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// round trip on the same TPM
+	unsealed, err := tpmUnsealWithTPM(logf, tpmDev1, sealed)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("tpmUnsealWithTPM() on first device failed: %v", err)
+	}
+	if !bytes.Equal(unsealed, testData) {
+		t.Errorf("unsealed data mismatch on first device:\ngot:  %q\nwant: %q", unsealed, testData)
+	}
+
+	// create a second device
+	swtpm2 := newSWTPM(t, withTPM20(), withSetup())
+	tpmDev2, err := linuxtpm.Open(swtpm2.DevicePath())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("linuxtpm.Open(%s) failed: %v", swtpm2.DevicePath(), err)
+	}
+	defer tpmDev2.Close()
+
+	// confirm we cannot unseal with the second TPM
+	_, err = tpmUnsealWithTPM(logf, tpmDev2, sealed)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Error("tpmUnsealWithTPM() on second device should have failed but succeeded")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/feature/tpm/tpm.go b/feature/tpm/tpm.go
index 4b27a241f..9b9f0c186 100644
--- a/feature/tpm/tpm.go
+++ b/feature/tpm/tpm.go
@@ -393,8 +393,13 @@ func tpmSeal(logf logger.Logf, data []byte) (*tpmSealedData, error) {
 	}
 	defer tpm.Close()
 
+	return tpmSealWithTPM(logf, tpm, data)
+}
+
+// tpmSealWithTPM seals the data using SRK of the provided TPM.
+func tpmSealWithTPM(logf logger.Logf, tpm transport.TPM, data []byte) (*tpmSealedData, error) {
 	var res *tpmSealedData
-	err = withSRK(logf, tpm, func(srk tpm2.AuthHandle) error {
+	err := withSRK(logf, tpm, func(srk tpm2.AuthHandle) error {
 		sealCmd := tpm2.Create{
 			ParentHandle: srk,
 			InSensitive: tpm2.TPM2BSensitiveCreate{
@@ -436,8 +441,13 @@ func tpmUnseal(logf logger.Logf, data *tpmSealedData) ([]byte, error) {
 	}
 	defer tpm.Close()
 
+	return tpmUnsealWithTPM(logf, tpm, data)
+}
+
+// tpmUnsealWithTPM unseals the data using SRK of the provided TPM.
+func tpmUnsealWithTPM(logf logger.Logf, tpm transport.TPM, data *tpmSealedData) ([]byte, error) {
 	var res []byte
-	err = withSRK(logf, tpm, func(srk tpm2.AuthHandle) error {
+	err := withSRK(logf, tpm, func(srk tpm2.AuthHandle) error {
 		// Load the sealed object into the TPM first under SRK.
 		loadCmd := tpm2.Load{
 			ParentHandle: srk,