diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 41ddd18608..0738a21f22 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@
   `/var/singularity`) to store local state files.
 - `--cwd` is now the preferred form of the flag for setting the container's
   working directory, though `--pwd` is still supported for compatibility.
+- `--oci` mode now provides a writable container by default, using a tmpfs
+  overlay. This improves parity with `--compat` mode in the native runtime, as
+  `--compat` enables `--writable-tmpfs`.
 
 ### New Features & Functionality
 
diff --git a/cmd/internal/cli/oci_linux.go b/cmd/internal/cli/oci_linux.go
index 571fe4e407..8e3a58866d 100644
--- a/cmd/internal/cli/oci_linux.go
+++ b/cmd/internal/cli/oci_linux.go
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ func init() {
 		cmdManager.RegisterSubCmd(OciCmd, OciStartCmd)
 		cmdManager.RegisterSubCmd(OciCmd, OciCreateCmd)
 		cmdManager.RegisterSubCmd(OciCmd, OciRunCmd)
+		cmdManager.RegisterSubCmd(OciCmd, OciRunWrappedCmd)
 		cmdManager.RegisterSubCmd(OciCmd, OciDeleteCmd)
 		cmdManager.RegisterSubCmd(OciCmd, OciKillCmd)
 		cmdManager.RegisterSubCmd(OciCmd, OciStateCmd)
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ func init() {
 		cmdManager.RegisterSubCmd(OciCmd, OciMountCmd)
 		cmdManager.RegisterSubCmd(OciCmd, OciUmountCmd)
 
-		cmdManager.SetCmdGroup("create_run", OciCreateCmd, OciRunCmd)
+		cmdManager.SetCmdGroup("create_run", OciCreateCmd, OciRunCmd, OciRunWrappedCmd)
 		createRunCmd := cmdManager.GetCmdGroup("create_run")
 
 		cmdManager.RegisterFlagForCmd(&ociBundleFlag, createRunCmd...)
@@ -167,6 +168,25 @@ var OciRunCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Example: docs.OciRunExample,
 }
 
+// OciRunWrappedCmd is for internal OCI launcher use.
+// Executes an oci run, wrapped with preparation / cleanup code.
+var OciRunWrappedCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Args:                  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+	DisableFlagsInUseLine: true,
+	PreRun:                CheckRoot,
+	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		if err := singularity.OciRunWrapped(cmd.Context(), args[0], &ociArgs); err != nil {
+			var exitErr *exec.ExitError
+			if errors.As(err, &exitErr) {
+				os.Exit(exitErr.ExitCode())
+			}
+			sylog.Fatalf("%s", err)
+		}
+	},
+	Use:    docs.OciRunWrappedUse,
+	Hidden: true,
+}
+
 // OciStartCmd represents oci start command.
 var OciStartCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Args:                  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
diff --git a/docs/content.go b/docs/content.go
index cff5b24edd..11fba9305e 100644
--- a/docs/content.go
+++ b/docs/content.go
@@ -976,6 +976,9 @@ Enterprise Performance Computing (EPC)`
   $ singularity oci attach mycontainer
   $ singularity oci delete mycontainer`
 
+	// Internal oci launcher use only - no user-facing docs
+	OciRunWrappedUse string = `run-wrapped -b <bundle_path> [run options...] <container_ID>`
+
 	OciUpdateUse   string = `update [update options...] <container_ID>`
 	OciUpdateShort string = `Update container cgroups resources (root user only)`
 	OciUpdateLong  string = `
diff --git a/e2e/actions/actions.go b/e2e/actions/actions.go
index 57671c6121..aa4671d375 100644
--- a/e2e/actions/actions.go
+++ b/e2e/actions/actions.go
@@ -2548,12 +2548,13 @@ func E2ETests(env e2e.TestEnv) testhelper.Tests {
 		//
 		// OCI Runtime Mode
 		//
-		"ociRun":     c.actionOciRun,     // singularity run --oci
-		"ociExec":    c.actionOciExec,    // singularity exec --oci
-		"ociShell":   c.actionOciShell,   // singularity shell --oci
-		"ociNetwork": c.actionOciNetwork, // singularity exec --oci --net
-		"ociBinds":   c.actionOciBinds,   // singularity exec --oci --bind / --mount
-		"ociCdi":     c.actionOciCdi,     // singularity exec --oci --cdi
-		"ociIDMaps":  c.actionOciIDMaps,  // check uid/gid mapping on host for --oci as user / --fakeroot
+		"ociRun":     c.actionOciRun,        // singularity run --oci
+		"ociExec":    c.actionOciExec,       // singularity exec --oci
+		"ociShell":   c.actionOciShell,      // singularity shell --oci
+		"ociNetwork": c.actionOciNetwork,    // singularity exec --oci --net
+		"ociBinds":   c.actionOciBinds,      // singularity exec --oci --bind / --mount
+		"ociCdi":     c.actionOciCdi,        // singularity exec --oci --cdi
+		"ociIDMaps":  c.actionOciIDMaps,     // check uid/gid mapping on host for --oci as user / --fakeroot
+		"ociCompat":  np(c.actionOciCompat), // --oci equivalence to native mode --compat
 	}
 }
diff --git a/e2e/actions/oci.go b/e2e/actions/oci.go
index 185577913d..27731719d0 100644
--- a/e2e/actions/oci.go
+++ b/e2e/actions/oci.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
+	"syscall"
 	"testing"
 	"text/template"
 
@@ -908,3 +909,60 @@ func (c actionTests) actionOciIDMaps(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+// actionOCICompat checks that the --oci mode has the behaviour that the native mode gains from the --compat flag.
+// Must be run in sequential section as it modifies host process umask.
+func (c actionTests) actionOciCompat(t *testing.T) {
+	e2e.EnsureOCIArchive(t, c.env)
+	imageRef := "oci-archive:" + c.env.OCIArchivePath
+
+	type test struct {
+		name     string
+		args     []string
+		exitCode int
+		expect   e2e.SingularityCmdResultOp
+	}
+
+	tests := []test{
+		{
+			name:     "containall",
+			args:     []string{imageRef, "sh", "-c", "ls -lah $HOME"},
+			exitCode: 0,
+			expect:   e2e.ExpectOutput(e2e.ContainMatch, "total 0"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "writable-tmpfs",
+			args:     []string{imageRef, "sh", "-c", "touch /test"},
+			exitCode: 0,
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "no-init",
+			args:     []string{imageRef, "sh", "-c", "ps"},
+			exitCode: 0,
+			expect:   e2e.ExpectOutput(e2e.UnwantedContainMatch, "sinit"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:     "no-umask",
+			args:     []string{imageRef, "sh", "-c", "umask"},
+			exitCode: 0,
+			expect:   e2e.ExpectOutput(e2e.ContainMatch, "0022"),
+		},
+	}
+
+	oldUmask := syscall.Umask(0)
+	defer syscall.Umask(oldUmask)
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		c.env.RunSingularity(
+			t,
+			e2e.AsSubtest(tt.name),
+			e2e.WithProfile(e2e.OCIUserProfile),
+			e2e.WithCommand("exec"),
+			e2e.WithArgs(tt.args...),
+			e2e.ExpectExit(
+				tt.exitCode,
+				tt.expect,
+			),
+		)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/app/singularity/oci_linux.go b/internal/app/singularity/oci_linux.go
index 1c8ba04695..e59c427914 100644
--- a/internal/app/singularity/oci_linux.go
+++ b/internal/app/singularity/oci_linux.go
@@ -42,6 +42,15 @@ func OciRun(ctx context.Context, containerID string, args *OciArgs) error {
 	return oci.Run(ctx, containerID, args.BundlePath, args.PidFile, systemdCgroups)
 }
 
+// OciRun runs a container via the OCI runtime, wrapped with prep / cleanup steps.
+func OciRunWrapped(ctx context.Context, containerID string, args *OciArgs) error {
+	systemdCgroups, err := systemdCgroups()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return oci.RunWrapped(ctx, containerID, args.BundlePath, args.PidFile, systemdCgroups)
+}
+
 // OciCreate creates a container from an OCI bundle
 func OciCreate(containerID string, args *OciArgs) error {
 	systemdCgroups, err := systemdCgroups()
diff --git a/internal/pkg/runtime/launcher/oci/launcher_linux.go b/internal/pkg/runtime/launcher/oci/launcher_linux.go
index deef5c3799..c3af777e2d 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/runtime/launcher/oci/launcher_linux.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/runtime/launcher/oci/launcher_linux.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func checkOpts(lo launcher.Options) error {
 		badOpt = append(badOpt, "Writable")
 	}
 	if lo.WritableTmpfs {
-		badOpt = append(badOpt, "WritableTmpfs")
+		sylog.Infof("--oci mode uses --writable-tmpfs by default")
 	}
 	if len(lo.OverlayPaths) > 0 {
 		badOpt = append(badOpt, "OverlayPaths")
@@ -473,12 +473,12 @@ func (l *Launcher) Exec(ctx context.Context, image string, process string, args
 	}
 
 	if os.Getuid() == 0 {
-		// Direct execution of runc/crun run.
-		err = Run(ctx, id.String(), b.Path(), "", l.singularityConf.SystemdCgroups)
+		// Execution of runc/crun run, wrapped with prep / cleanup.
+		err = RunWrapped(ctx, id.String(), b.Path(), "", l.singularityConf.SystemdCgroups)
 	} else {
 		// Reexec singularity oci run in a userns with mappings.
 		// Note - the oci run command will pull out the SystemdCgroups setting from config.
-		err = RunNS(ctx, id.String(), b.Path(), "")
+		err = RunWrappedNS(ctx, id.String(), b.Path(), "")
 	}
 	var exitErr *exec.ExitError
 	if errors.As(err, &exitErr) {
diff --git a/internal/pkg/runtime/launcher/oci/oci_runc_linux.go b/internal/pkg/runtime/launcher/oci/oci_runc_linux.go
index e2738b9862..8268643d88 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/runtime/launcher/oci/oci_runc_linux.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/runtime/launcher/oci/oci_runc_linux.go
@@ -19,8 +19,10 @@ import (
 	"github.com/sylabs/singularity/internal/pkg/buildcfg"
 	fakerootConfig "github.com/sylabs/singularity/internal/pkg/runtime/engine/fakeroot/config"
 	"github.com/sylabs/singularity/internal/pkg/util/starter"
+	"github.com/sylabs/singularity/pkg/ocibundle/tools"
 	"github.com/sylabs/singularity/pkg/runtime/engine/config"
 	"github.com/sylabs/singularity/pkg/sylog"
+	"github.com/sylabs/singularity/pkg/util/singularityconf"
 )
 
 // Delete deletes container resources
@@ -219,8 +221,25 @@ func Run(ctx context.Context, containerID, bundlePath, pidFile string, systemdCg
 	return cmd.Run()
 }
 
-// RunNS reexecs singularity in a user namespace, with supplied uid/gid mapping, calling oci run.
-func RunNS(ctx context.Context, containerID, bundlePath, pidFile string) error {
+// RunWrapped runs a container via the OCI runtime, wrapped with prep / cleanup steps.
+func RunWrapped(ctx context.Context, containerID, bundlePath, pidFile string, systemdCgroups bool) error {
+	// TODO: --oci mode always emulating --compat, which uses --writable-tmpfs.
+	//       Provide a way of disabling this, for a read only rootfs.
+	if err := prepareWriteableTmpfs(bundlePath); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	Run(ctx, containerID, bundlePath, pidFile, systemdCgroups)
+
+	// Cleanup actions log errors, but don't return - so we get as much cleanup done as possible.
+	if err := cleanupWritableTmpfs(bundlePath); err != nil {
+		sylog.Errorf("While cleaning up writable tmpfs: %v", err)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// RunWrappedNS reexecs singularity in a user namespace, with supplied uid/gid mapping, calling oci run.
+func RunWrappedNS(ctx context.Context, containerID, bundlePath, pidFile string) error {
 	absBundle, err := filepath.Abs(bundlePath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to determine bundle absolute path: %s", err)
@@ -233,7 +252,7 @@ func RunNS(ctx context.Context, containerID, bundlePath, pidFile string) error {
 	args := []string{
 		filepath.Join(buildcfg.BINDIR, "singularity"),
 		"oci",
-		"run",
+		"run-wrapped",
 		"-b", absBundle,
 		containerID,
 	}
@@ -342,3 +361,17 @@ func Update(containerID, cgFile string, systemdCgroups bool) error {
 	sylog.Debugf("Calling %s with args %v", runtimeBin, runtimeArgs)
 	return cmd.Run()
 }
+
+func prepareWriteableTmpfs(bundleDir string) error {
+	sylog.Debugf("Configuring writable tmpfs overlay for %s", bundleDir)
+	c := singularityconf.GetCurrentConfig()
+	if c == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("singularity configuration is not initialized")
+	}
+	return tools.CreateOverlayTmpfs(bundleDir, int(c.SessiondirMaxSize))
+}
+
+func cleanupWritableTmpfs(bundleDir string) error {
+	sylog.Debugf("Cleaning up writable tmpfs overlay for %s", bundleDir)
+	return tools.DeleteOverlay(bundleDir)
+}
diff --git a/internal/pkg/runtime/launcher/oci/spec_linux.go b/internal/pkg/runtime/launcher/oci/spec_linux.go
index cd8beadbe7..9b37bd3ee4 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/runtime/launcher/oci/spec_linux.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/runtime/launcher/oci/spec_linux.go
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ func minimalSpec() specs.Spec {
 	}
 	config.Root = &specs.Root{
 		Path: "rootfs",
-		// TODO - support writable-tmpfs / writable
-		Readonly: true,
+		// TODO - support read-only. At present we always have a writable tmpfs overlay, like native runtime --compat.
+		Readonly: false,
 	}
 	config.Process = &specs.Process{
 		Terminal: true,
diff --git a/pkg/ocibundle/tools/overlay_linux.go b/pkg/ocibundle/tools/overlay_linux.go
index e98c567075..c0a65cf7d4 100644
--- a/pkg/ocibundle/tools/overlay_linux.go
+++ b/pkg/ocibundle/tools/overlay_linux.go
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"syscall"
 )
 
-// CreateOverlay creates a writable overlay
+// CreateOverlay creates a writable overlay based on a directory.
 func CreateOverlay(bundlePath string) error {
 	var err error
 
@@ -45,18 +45,61 @@ func CreateOverlay(bundlePath string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to remount %s: %s", overlayDir, err)
 	}
 
+	err = prepareOverlay(bundlePath, overlayDir)
+	return err
+}
+
+// CreateOverlay creates a writable overlay based on a tmpfs.
+func CreateOverlayTmpfs(bundlePath string, sizeMiB int) error {
+	var err error
+
+	oldumask := syscall.Umask(0)
+	defer syscall.Umask(oldumask)
+
+	overlayDir := filepath.Join(bundlePath, "overlay")
+	if err = os.Mkdir(overlayDir, 0o700); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create %s: %s", overlayDir, err)
+	}
+	// delete overlay directory in case of error
+	defer func() {
+		if err != nil {
+			os.RemoveAll(overlayDir)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	options := fmt.Sprintf("mode=1777,size=%dm", sizeMiB)
+	err = syscall.Mount("tmpfs", overlayDir, "tmpfs", syscall.MS_NODEV, options)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to bind %s: %s", overlayDir, err)
+	}
+	// best effort to cleanup mount
+	defer func() {
+		if err != nil {
+			syscall.Unmount(overlayDir, syscall.MNT_DETACH)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	if err = syscall.Mount("", overlayDir, "", syscall.MS_REMOUNT, ""); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to remount %s: %s", overlayDir, err)
+	}
+
+	err = prepareOverlay(bundlePath, overlayDir)
+	return err
+}
+
+func prepareOverlay(bundlePath, overlayDir string) error {
 	upperDir := filepath.Join(overlayDir, "upper")
-	if err = os.Mkdir(upperDir, 0o755); err != nil {
+	if err := os.Mkdir(upperDir, 0o755); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create %s: %s", upperDir, err)
 	}
 	workDir := filepath.Join(overlayDir, "work")
-	if err = os.Mkdir(workDir, 0o700); err != nil {
+	if err := os.Mkdir(workDir, 0o700); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create %s: %s", workDir, err)
 	}
 	rootFsDir := RootFs(bundlePath).Path()
 
 	options := fmt.Sprintf("lowerdir=%s,upperdir=%s,workdir=%s", rootFsDir, upperDir, workDir)
-	if err = syscall.Mount("overlay", rootFsDir, "overlay", 0, options); err != nil {
+	if err := syscall.Mount("overlay", rootFsDir, "overlay", 0, options); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to mount %s: %s", overlayDir, err)
 	}
 	return nil