diff --git a/lua/neotest/client/init.lua b/lua/neotest/client/init.lua
index f1c88515..9770084c 100644
--- a/lua/neotest/client/init.lua
+++ b/lua/neotest/client/init.lua
@@ -335,19 +335,35 @@ function neotest.Client:_get_adapter(position_id, adapter_id)
   end
 
   assert(position_id)
-  for a_id, adapter in pairs(self._adapters) do
-    if self._state:positions(a_id, position_id) then
-      return a_id, adapter
-    end
 
-    local root = self._state:positions(a_id)
-    if
-      (not root or vim.startswith(position_id, root:data().path))
-      and (lib.files.is_dir(position_id) or adapter.is_test_file(position_id))
-    then
-      return a_id, adapter
+  local function find_adapter()
+    for a_id, adapter in pairs(self._adapters) do
+      if self._state:positions(a_id, position_id) then
+        return a_id, adapter
+      end
+
+      local root = self._state:positions(a_id)
+      if
+        (not root or vim.startswith(position_id, root:data().path))
+        and (lib.files.is_dir(position_id) or adapter.is_test_file(position_id))
+      then
+        return a_id, adapter
+      end
     end
   end
+
+  -- First attempt to find adapter
+  local found_id, found_adapter = find_adapter()
+  if found_id then
+    return found_id, found_adapter
+  end
+
+  -- If no adapter is found and client is started, update adapters for this path's directory and try again
+  if self._started then
+    local dir = lib.files.is_dir(position_id) and position_id or lib.files.parent(position_id)
+    self:_update_adapters(dir)
+    return find_adapter()
+  end
 end
 
 ---@async
diff --git a/tests/unit/client/init_spec.lua b/tests/unit/client/init_spec.lua
index c3019395..b25593b4 100644
--- a/tests/unit/client/init_spec.lua
+++ b/tests/unit/client/init_spec.lua
@@ -257,6 +257,39 @@ describe("neotest client", function()
         assert.Not.Nil(tree)
       end)
     end)
+
+    describe("adapter discovery for paths outside cwd", function()
+      local parent_stub, update_adapters_stub
+      before_each(function()
+        -- Use a file path that would belong to a different project/root
+        local test_path = "/completely/different/path/test_file"
+        local parent_dir = "/completely/different/path"
+
+        parent_stub = stub(lib.files, "parent")
+        parent_stub.on_call_with(test_path).returns(parent_dir)
+
+        dirs[#dirs + 1] = parent_dir
+
+        update_adapters_stub = stub(client, "_update_adapters")
+      end)
+
+      after_each(function()
+        parent_stub:revert()
+        update_adapters_stub:revert()
+      end)
+
+      a.it("calls _update_adapters when adapter not found for path", function()
+        local test_path = "/completely/different/path/test_file"
+        local parent_dir = "/completely/different/path"
+
+        client:_ensure_started()
+
+        client:_get_adapter(test_path)
+
+        -- Verify _update_adapters was called with the parent directory
+        assert.stub(client._update_adapters).was_called_with(client, parent_dir)
+      end)
+    end)
   end)
 
   describe("running tests", function()