diff --git a/.github/workflows/playwright-test-workflow.yml b/.github/workflows/playwright-test-workflow.yml
index 2e9f22ae19..033c1cefff 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/playwright-test-workflow.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/playwright-test-workflow.yml
@@ -72,8 +72,13 @@ jobs:
           npm run watch:run:playwright > ${{ inputs.db }}_${{ inputs.shard }}_test_backend.log &
       - name: Wait for backend
         run: |
+          end=$((SECONDS+20))
           while ! curl --output /dev/null --silent --head --fail http://localhost:8080; do
-            curl --silent --head --fail http://localhost:8080;
+            if [ $SECONDS -gt $end ]; then
+              echo "Backend not started"
+              curl --silent --head --fail http://localhost:8080;
+              exit 1
+            fi
             printf '.'
             sleep 2
           done