diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 94aea76..af52c83 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,6 +11,19 @@ Note that the usage of Docker Desktop is subject to [Docker Desktop license agre
 
 After this step executes, Docker Desktop is ready and available, the docker CLI can be executed in subsequent "run" steps
 
+## Choosing a runner
+
+Docker Desktop runs a Linux VM, so the runner needs enough CPU and memory or
+`dockerd` can fail to finish starting and the action hangs waiting on the daemon.
+At least 4 vCPUs and 16 GB of RAM is a good baseline.
+
+Watch out for `ubuntu-latest`: GitHub gives public repositories a 4 vCPU / 16 GB
+runner, but private and internal repositories get a smaller 2 vCPU / 7 GB one,
+and on that box `dockerd` often stalls during startup and never becomes ready.
+If your repository is private or internal, pick a larger runner (e.g. a
+[GitHub larger runner](https://docs.github.com/en/actions/using-github-hosted-runners/about-larger-runners)
+with 4 vCPUs / 16 GB), not plain `ubuntu-latest`.
+
 By default, the action downloads the last version of Docker Desktop. But you can specify another one by providing the build URL from where the action can download the specific version:
 
 ```
diff --git a/start/action.yml b/start/action.yml
index 18ebae3..aecd64a 100644
--- a/start/action.yml
+++ b/start/action.yml
@@ -147,6 +147,18 @@ runs:
     - name: Wait for Docker to be up and running
       shell: bash
       run: |
-        until docker ps; do echo "docker not ready, sleep 10 s and try again"; sleep 10; done
+        deadline=$(( $(date +%s) + 600 ))
+        until timeout 60 docker ps >/dev/null 2>&1; do
+          if (( $(date +%s) >= deadline )); then
+            echo "::error::Docker did not become ready within 600s"
+            echo "----- host logs (incl. backend) -----"
+            cat ~/.docker/desktop/log/host/*.log 2>/dev/null || true
+            echo "----- vm logs (console) -----"
+            cat ~/.docker/desktop/log/vm/*.log 2>/dev/null || true
+            exit 1
+          fi
+          echo "docker not ready, sleep 10 s and try again"
+          sleep 10
+        done
         echo "Docker started and ready"
         docker version