diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.backend.seed.yml b/.github/workflows/test.backend.seed.yml
index 225eeacd..8ef66789 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.backend.seed.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.backend.seed.yml
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ jobs:
           mkdir -p ./data/uploads
           sudo chmod 777 -R ./data
           docker compose -f docker-compose.yml up -d
-          sleep 5
+          # Wait for Directus to be ready using health endpoint polling
+          timeout 120 bash -c 'until curl -f http://localhost:8055/server/health; do echo "Waiting for Directus..."; sleep 5; done'
           cd backend && ./push.sh && ./seed.sh
         working-directory: ${{env.WORKING_DIRECTORY}}