diff --git a/pkg/test/extensions/global_node_detection.go b/pkg/test/extensions/global_node_detection.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..a83d38dc4c16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/test/extensions/global_node_detection.go
@@ -0,0 +1,254 @@
+package extensions
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"sort"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/openshift/origin/pkg/test/ginkgo/junitapi"
+)
+
+// binaryKey uniquely identifies a test binary by its image and path.
+type binaryKey struct {
+	imageTag   string
+	binaryPath string
+}
+
+// binaryResult holds the detection results for a single binary.
+type binaryResult struct {
+	binaryName      string // Just the filename, not the full path
+	globalLocations []string
+	totalTests      int
+}
+
+// imageResult groups all binary results for a single image.
+type imageResult struct {
+	imageTag string
+	binaries []binaryResult
+}
+
+// CheckForGlobalNodes checks if any code locations appear in ALL tests for each binary,
+// which indicates that BeforeEach/AfterEach nodes were registered at the global level
+// (root of the Ginkgo tree). This is a serious bug because these hooks run for EVERY test,
+// wasting resources and time. In some cases, these global nodes can
+// interfere with test operations.
+//
+// Tests are grouped by their source image, and each binary within an image is checked separately.
+//
+// Returns JUnit test cases as flakes (failing + passing with same name) for each image
+// that has global nodes detected. This allows the issue to be tracked in CI without
+// blocking the test run for now.
+func CheckForGlobalNodes(specs ExtensionTestSpecs) []*junitapi.JUnitTestCase {
+	// Group tests by image tag and binary path
+	specsByBinary := make(map[binaryKey]ExtensionTestSpecs)
+	for _, spec := range specs {
+		if spec.Binary == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		key := binaryKey{
+			imageTag:   spec.Binary.imageTag,
+			binaryPath: spec.Binary.binaryPath,
+		}
+		specsByBinary[key] = append(specsByBinary[key], spec)
+	}
+
+	// Check each binary for global nodes, grouped by image
+	resultsByImage := make(map[string][]binaryResult)
+
+	for key, binarySpecs := range specsByBinary {
+		// Skip binaries with fewer than 25 tests - can't detect global nodes meaningfully
+		// with small test counts as it would generate false positives
+		if len(binarySpecs) < 25 {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		totalTests := len(binarySpecs)
+
+		// Count how many unique tests contain each code location
+		locationToTests := make(map[string]map[string]struct{})
+		for _, spec := range binarySpecs {
+			for _, loc := range spec.CodeLocations {
+				if locationToTests[loc] == nil {
+					locationToTests[loc] = make(map[string]struct{})
+				}
+				locationToTests[loc][spec.Name] = struct{}{}
+			}
+		}
+
+		// Find code locations that appear in ALL tests for this binary
+		var globalLocations []string
+		for loc, tests := range locationToTests {
+			if len(tests) != totalTests {
+				continue
+			}
+
+			// Skip locations that are expected to be in all tests
+			if isExpectedGlobalLocation(loc) {
+				continue
+			}
+
+			globalLocations = append(globalLocations, loc)
+		}
+
+		if len(globalLocations) > 0 {
+			sort.Strings(globalLocations)
+			// Use just the binary filename, not the full extracted path
+			binaryName := filepath.Base(key.binaryPath)
+			resultsByImage[key.imageTag] = append(resultsByImage[key.imageTag], binaryResult{
+				binaryName:      binaryName,
+				globalLocations: globalLocations,
+				totalTests:      totalTests,
+			})
+		}
+	}
+
+	if len(resultsByImage) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	// Build sorted list of image results
+	var imageResults []imageResult
+	for imageTag, binaries := range resultsByImage {
+		// Sort binaries within each image for consistent output
+		sort.Slice(binaries, func(i, j int) bool {
+			return binaries[i].binaryName < binaries[j].binaryName
+		})
+		imageResults = append(imageResults, imageResult{
+			imageTag: imageTag,
+			binaries: binaries,
+		})
+	}
+
+	// Sort by imageTag for consistent output
+	sort.Slice(imageResults, func(i, j int) bool {
+		return imageResults[i].imageTag < imageResults[j].imageTag
+	})
+
+	// Create JUnit test cases as flakes (one failing, one passing per image)
+	var testCases []*junitapi.JUnitTestCase
+
+	for _, result := range imageResults {
+		testName := fmt.Sprintf("[sig-ci] image %s should not have global BeforeEach/AfterEach nodes", result.imageTag)
+
+		// Build detailed failure message
+		failureOutput := buildGlobalNodeFailureMessage(result.imageTag, result.binaries)
+
+		// Count total global locations across all binaries
+		totalLocations := 0
+		for _, b := range result.binaries {
+			totalLocations += len(b.globalLocations)
+		}
+
+		// Create failing test case
+		failingCase := &junitapi.JUnitTestCase{
+			Name: testName,
+			FailureOutput: &junitapi.FailureOutput{
+				Message: fmt.Sprintf("Found %d global BeforeEach/AfterEach code locations in image %s across %d binary(ies)", totalLocations, result.imageTag, len(result.binaries)),
+				Output:  failureOutput,
+			},
+		}
+		testCases = append(testCases, failingCase)
+
+		// Create passing test case (same name = flake)
+		passingCase := &junitapi.JUnitTestCase{
+			Name: testName,
+		}
+		testCases = append(testCases, passingCase)
+	}
+
+	return testCases
+}
+
+// buildGlobalNodeFailureMessage creates a detailed message explaining the global node issue.
+func buildGlobalNodeFailureMessage(imageTag string, binaries []binaryResult) string {
+	var sb strings.Builder
+
+	sb.WriteString("\n")
+	sb.WriteString("╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗\n")
+	sb.WriteString("║                    GLOBAL BEFOREEACH/AFTEREACH DETECTED                      ║\n")
+	sb.WriteString("╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝\n")
+	sb.WriteString("\n")
+	sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("IMAGE: %s\n", imageTag))
+	sb.WriteString("\n")
+
+	for _, binary := range binaries {
+		sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("BINARY: %s (%d tests)\n", binary.binaryName, binary.totalTests))
+		sb.WriteString("GLOBAL CODE LOCATIONS:\n")
+		for _, loc := range binary.globalLocations {
+			sb.WriteString(fmt.Sprintf("  • %s\n", loc))
+		}
+		sb.WriteString("\n")
+	}
+
+	sb.WriteString("PROBLEM: The code locations above appear in ALL tests for their respective binaries,\n")
+	sb.WriteString("indicating that BeforeEach or AfterEach hooks were registered at the global level.\n")
+	sb.WriteString("\n")
+	sb.WriteString("This means these hooks run for EVERY SINGLE TEST even when not needed,\n")
+	sb.WriteString("wasting CI resources and adding unnecessary test execution time.\n")
+	sb.WriteString("\n")
+	sb.WriteString("COMMON CAUSES:\n")
+	sb.WriteString("\n")
+	sb.WriteString("1. Package-level FixturePath() call:\n")
+	sb.WriteString("   BAD:  var myFixture = exutil.FixturePath(\"testdata\", \"file.yaml\")\n")
+	sb.WriteString("   GOOD: func myFixture() string { return exutil.FixturePath(\"testdata\", \"file.yaml\") }\n")
+	sb.WriteString("\n")
+	sb.WriteString("2. Package-level NewCLI/NewCLIWithoutNamespace call:\n")
+	sb.WriteString("   BAD:  var oc = exutil.NewCLIWithoutNamespace(\"test\")\n")
+	sb.WriteString("   GOOD: Inside g.Describe(): oc := exutil.NewCLIWithoutNamespace(\"test\")\n")
+	sb.WriteString("\n")
+	sb.WriteString("HOW TO FIX:\n")
+	sb.WriteString("\n")
+	sb.WriteString("1. Find the file and line number from the locations above\n")
+	sb.WriteString("2. Look for package-level var declarations that call FixturePath() or NewCLI*()\n")
+	sb.WriteString("3. Convert them to functions (for FixturePath) or move inside Describe blocks (for CLI)\n")
+	sb.WriteString("\n")
+	sb.WriteString("EXAMPLE FIX FOR FixturePath:\n")
+	sb.WriteString("\n")
+	sb.WriteString("  // BEFORE (causes global BeforeEach):\n")
+	sb.WriteString("  var myFixture = exutil.FixturePath(\"testdata\", \"file.yaml\")\n")
+	sb.WriteString("  func useFixture() { oc.Run(\"apply\").Args(\"-f\", myFixture) }\n")
+	sb.WriteString("\n")
+	sb.WriteString("  // AFTER (lazy evaluation, no global BeforeEach):\n")
+	sb.WriteString("  func myFixture() string { return exutil.FixturePath(\"testdata\", \"file.yaml\") }\n")
+	sb.WriteString("  func useFixture() { oc.Run(\"apply\").Args(\"-f\", myFixture()) }\n")
+	sb.WriteString("\n")
+	sb.WriteString("FOR AI ASSISTANTS:\n")
+	sb.WriteString("If you're Claude or another AI helping fix this, search the codebase for the file\n")
+	sb.WriteString("paths shown above. Look for package-level 'var' declarations that call\n")
+	sb.WriteString("exutil.FixturePath() or exutil.NewCLI*(). Convert FixturePath vars to functions\n")
+	sb.WriteString("that return the path. Move NewCLI* calls inside Ginkgo Describe/Context blocks.\n")
+	sb.WriteString("\n")
+
+	return sb.String()
+}
+
+// allowedGlobalLocations is an exception list of code locations that are known
+// to register global BeforeEach/AfterEach nodes. These should be fixed
+// unless it is intentional.
+var allowedGlobalLocations = map[string]string{
+	// Add exceptions here with an explanation, e.g.:
+	// "github.com/openshift/origin/test/extended/networking/util.go:82": "FIXME: package-level FixturePath call",
+}
+
+// isExpectedGlobalLocation returns true for code locations that are expected
+// to appear in all tests and should not trigger the global node detection.
+func isExpectedGlobalLocation(loc string) bool {
+	// Check exact match in allowlist
+	if _, ok := allowedGlobalLocations[loc]; ok {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	// Check pattern matches for framework infrastructure that's legitimately global
+	expectedPatterns := []string{
+		// None currently - if we find legitimate cases, add them here with comments
+	}
+
+	for _, pattern := range expectedPatterns {
+		if strings.Contains(loc, pattern) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+
+	return false
+}
diff --git a/pkg/test/ginkgo/cmd_runsuite.go b/pkg/test/ginkgo/cmd_runsuite.go
index df1b73b0f641..5bf52aaccb85 100644
--- a/pkg/test/ginkgo/cmd_runsuite.go
+++ b/pkg/test/ginkgo/cmd_runsuite.go
@@ -220,6 +220,10 @@ func (o *GinkgoRunSuiteOptions) Run(suite *TestSuite, clusterConfig *clusterdisc
 
 	logrus.Infof("Discovered %d total tests", len(specs))
 
+	// Check for global BeforeEach/AfterEach nodes in each binary
+	// Returns JUnit test cases as flakes to track the issue without blocking
+	globalNodeTestCases := extensions.CheckForGlobalNodes(specs)
+
 	// skip tests due to newer k8s
 	restConfig, err := clusterinfo.GetMonitorRESTConfig()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -618,6 +622,7 @@ func (o *GinkgoRunSuiteOptions) Run(suite *TestSuite, clusterConfig *clusterdisc
 	var syntheticTestResults []*junitapi.JUnitTestCase
 	var syntheticFailure bool
 	syntheticTestResults = append(syntheticTestResults, stableClusterTestResults...)
+	syntheticTestResults = append(syntheticTestResults, globalNodeTestCases...)
 
 	timeSuffix := fmt.Sprintf("_%s", start.UTC().Format("20060102-150405"))
 
diff --git a/test/extended/image_ecosystem/mysql_replica.go b/test/extended/image_ecosystem/mysql_replica.go
index 42a635388de5..2919a574c399 100644
--- a/test/extended/image_ecosystem/mysql_replica.go
+++ b/test/extended/image_ecosystem/mysql_replica.go
@@ -34,10 +34,13 @@ var (
 			false,
 		},
 	}
-	helperTemplate = exutil.FixturePath("..", "..", "examples", "db-templates", "mysql-ephemeral-template.json")
-	helperName     = "mysql-helper"
+	helperName = "mysql-helper"
 )
 
+func helperTemplate() string {
+	return exutil.FixturePath("..", "..", "examples", "db-templates", "mysql-ephemeral-template.json")
+}
+
 // CreateMySQLReplicationHelpers creates a set of MySQL helpers for master,
 // slave and an extra helper that is used for remote login test.
 func CreateMySQLReplicationHelpers(c kcoreclient.PodInterface, masterDeployment, slaveDeployment, helperDeployment string, slaveCount int) (exutil.Database, []exutil.Database, exutil.Database) {
@@ -82,7 +85,7 @@ func replicationTestFactory(oc *exutil.CLI, tc testCase, cleanup func()) func()
 		err = oc.Run("new-app").Args("--template", tc.TemplateName).Execute()
 		o.Expect(err).NotTo(o.HaveOccurred())
 
-		err = oc.Run("new-app").Args("-f", helperTemplate, "-p", fmt.Sprintf("MYSQL_VERSION=%s", tc.Version), "-p", fmt.Sprintf("DATABASE_SERVICE_NAME=%s", helperName)).Execute()
+		err = oc.Run("new-app").Args("-f", helperTemplate(), "-p", fmt.Sprintf("MYSQL_VERSION=%s", tc.Version), "-p", fmt.Sprintf("DATABASE_SERVICE_NAME=%s", helperName)).Execute()
 		o.Expect(err).NotTo(o.HaveOccurred())
 
 		// oc.KubeFramework().WaitForAnEndpoint currently will wait forever;  for now, prefacing with our WaitForADeploymentToComplete,
diff --git a/test/extended/image_ecosystem/postgresql_replica.go b/test/extended/image_ecosystem/postgresql_replica.go
index 6d0a5294d8cd..76696a2749d5 100644
--- a/test/extended/image_ecosystem/postgresql_replica.go
+++ b/test/extended/image_ecosystem/postgresql_replica.go
@@ -20,13 +20,16 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	postgreSQLReplicationTemplate = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sclorg/postgresql-container/master/examples/replica/postgresql_replica.json"
-	postgreSQLEphemeralTemplate   = exutil.FixturePath("..", "..", "examples", "db-templates", "postgresql-ephemeral-template.json")
 	postgreSQLHelperName          = "postgresql-helper"
 	postgreSQLImages              = []string{
 		"postgresql:9.6",
 	}
 )
 
+func postgreSQLEphemeralTemplate() string {
+	return exutil.FixturePath("..", "..", "examples", "db-templates", "postgresql-ephemeral-template.json")
+}
+
 /*
 var _ = g.Describe("[sig-devex][Feature:ImageEcosystem][postgresql][Slow][Local] openshift postgresql replication", func() {
 	defer g.GinkgoRecover()
@@ -130,7 +133,7 @@ func PostgreSQLReplicationTestFactory(oc *exutil.CLI, image string, cleanup func
 		err = oc.Run("new-app").Args("--template", "pg-replica-example", "-p", fmt.Sprintf("IMAGESTREAMTAG=%s", image)).Execute()
 		o.Expect(err).NotTo(o.HaveOccurred())
 
-		err = oc.Run("new-app").Args("-f", postgreSQLEphemeralTemplate, "-p", fmt.Sprintf("DATABASE_SERVICE_NAME=%s", postgreSQLHelperName)).Execute()
+		err = oc.Run("new-app").Args("-f", postgreSQLEphemeralTemplate(), "-p", fmt.Sprintf("DATABASE_SERVICE_NAME=%s", postgreSQLHelperName)).Execute()
 		o.Expect(err).NotTo(o.HaveOccurred())
 
 		g.By("PV/PVC dump after setup")
diff --git a/test/extended/kernel/common.go b/test/extended/kernel/common.go
index 96ed3b6b737d..0cef82c4c572 100644
--- a/test/extended/kernel/common.go
+++ b/test/extended/kernel/common.go
@@ -23,12 +23,18 @@ var (
 	// - 5.14.0-430.el9.x86_64+rt
 	// Continue using regex to tighten the match for both versions
 	realTimeKernelRE = regexp.MustCompile(".*[.+]rt.*")
-	rtEnvFixture     = exutil.FixturePath("testdata", "kernel", "rt-tests-environment.yaml")
-	rtPodFixture     = exutil.FixturePath("testdata", "kernel", "rt-tests-pod.yaml")
 	rtNamespace      = "ci-realtime-testbed"
 	rtPodName        = "rt-tests"
 )
 
+func rtEnvFixture() string {
+	return exutil.FixturePath("testdata", "kernel", "rt-tests-environment.yaml")
+}
+
+func rtPodFixture() string {
+	return exutil.FixturePath("testdata", "kernel", "rt-tests-pod.yaml")
+}
+
 func failIfNotRT(oc *exutil.CLI) {
 	g.By("checking kernel configuration")
 
@@ -57,14 +63,14 @@ func getRealTimeWorkerNodes(oc *exutil.CLI) (nodes map[string]int, err error) {
 // Setup the cluster infra needed for running RT tests
 func configureRealtimeTestEnvironment(oc *exutil.CLI) {
 	g.By("Setting up the privileged environment needed for realtime tests")
-	err := oc.SetNamespace(rtNamespace).Run("apply").Args("-f", rtEnvFixture).Execute()
+	err := oc.SetNamespace(rtNamespace).Run("apply").Args("-f", rtEnvFixture()).Execute()
 	o.Expect(err).NotTo(o.HaveOccurred(), "unable to create namespace and service accounts for rt-tests")
 }
 
 // Tear down the infra setup we used for testing
 func cleanupRealtimeTestEnvironment(oc *exutil.CLI) {
 	g.By("Cleaning up the privileged environment needed for realtime tests")
-	err := oc.SetNamespace(rtNamespace).Run("delete").Args("-f", rtEnvFixture).Execute()
+	err := oc.SetNamespace(rtNamespace).Run("delete").Args("-f", rtEnvFixture()).Execute()
 	o.Expect(err).NotTo(o.HaveOccurred(), "unable to clean up the namespace and service accounts for rt-tests")
 
 	err = wait.PollImmediate(1*time.Second, 60*time.Second, func() (bool, error) {
@@ -82,7 +88,7 @@ func cleanupRealtimeTestEnvironment(oc *exutil.CLI) {
 // Setup the pod that will be used to run the test
 func startRtTestPod(oc *exutil.CLI) {
 	g.By("Setting up the pod needed for realtime tests")
-	err := oc.SetNamespace(rtNamespace).Run("apply").Args("-f", rtPodFixture).Execute()
+	err := oc.SetNamespace(rtNamespace).Run("apply").Args("-f", rtPodFixture()).Execute()
 	o.Expect(err).NotTo(o.HaveOccurred(), "unable to create test pod for rt-tests")
 
 	// Wait for the container to be ready to go
@@ -93,7 +99,7 @@ func startRtTestPod(oc *exutil.CLI) {
 // Cleanup the pod used for the test
 func cleanupRtTestPod(oc *exutil.CLI) {
 	g.By("Cleaning up the pod needed for realtime tests")
-	err := oc.SetNamespace(rtNamespace).Run("delete").Args("-f", rtPodFixture).Execute()
+	err := oc.SetNamespace(rtNamespace).Run("delete").Args("-f", rtPodFixture()).Execute()
 	o.Expect(err).NotTo(o.HaveOccurred(), "unable to clean up test pod for rt-tests")
 
 	// Wait for the container to be ready to go
diff --git a/test/extended/networking/ipsec.go b/test/extended/networking/ipsec.go
index e71d21638d33..5c0ee83681b2 100644
--- a/test/extended/networking/ipsec.go
+++ b/test/extended/networking/ipsec.go
@@ -505,7 +505,7 @@ var _ = g.Describe("[sig-network][Feature:IPsec]", g.Ordered, func() {
 			// nodes don't go for a reboot while rolling out `99-worker-north-south-ipsec-config`
 			// machine config which configures certificates for testing IPsec north south traffic.
 			g.By("deploy machine configuration policy")
-			err = oc.AsAdmin().Run("apply").Args("-f", nsNodeRebootNoneFixture).Execute()
+			err = oc.AsAdmin().Run("apply").Args("-f", nsNodeRebootNoneFixture()).Execute()
 			o.Expect(err).NotTo(o.HaveOccurred())
 			mg.WaitForBootImageControllerToComplete(oc)
 
diff --git a/test/extended/networking/util.go b/test/extended/networking/util.go
index ec1bc5ff59a8..ea9ed1f542ba 100644
--- a/test/extended/networking/util.go
+++ b/test/extended/networking/util.go
@@ -79,11 +79,20 @@ const (
 var (
 	masterRoleMachineConfigLabel = map[string]string{"machineconfiguration.openshift.io/role": "master"}
 	workerRoleMachineConfigLabel = map[string]string{"machineconfiguration.openshift.io/role": "worker"}
-	ipsecConfigurationBaseDir    = exutil.FixturePath("testdata", "ipsec")
-	nsMachineConfigFixture       = filepath.Join(ipsecConfigurationBaseDir, "nsconfig-machine-config.yaml")
-	nsNodeRebootNoneFixture      = filepath.Join(ipsecConfigurationBaseDir, "nsconfig-reboot-none-policy.yaml")
 )
 
+func ipsecConfigurationBaseDir() string {
+	return exutil.FixturePath("testdata", "ipsec")
+}
+
+func nsMachineConfigFixture() string {
+	return filepath.Join(ipsecConfigurationBaseDir(), "nsconfig-machine-config.yaml")
+}
+
+func nsNodeRebootNoneFixture() string {
+	return filepath.Join(ipsecConfigurationBaseDir(), "nsconfig-reboot-none-policy.yaml")
+}
+
 // IsIPv6 returns true if a group of ips are ipv6.
 func isIpv6(ip []string) bool {
 	ipv6 := false
@@ -648,7 +657,7 @@ func createIPsecCertsMachineConfig(oc *exutil.CLI) (*mcfgv1.MachineConfig, error
 	if err == nil {
 		return nsCertMachineConfig, nil
 	}
-	err = oc.AsAdmin().Run("create").Args("-f", nsMachineConfigFixture).Execute()
+	err = oc.AsAdmin().Run("create").Args("-f", nsMachineConfigFixture()).Execute()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error deploying IPsec certs Machine Config: %v", err)
 	}