diff --git a/.github/workflows/playwright.yml b/.github/workflows/playwright.yml
index af113a9..1baa948 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/playwright.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/playwright.yml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Setup Node.js
         uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
-          node-version: 'lts/*'
+          node-version: '20'
           cache: 'npm'
 
       - name: Install dependencies
diff --git a/tests/global-setup.ts b/tests/global-setup.ts
index 1368eea..7c036ab 100644
--- a/tests/global-setup.ts
+++ b/tests/global-setup.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@ async function globalSetup(): Promise<void> {
   // Use process.cwd() and navigate to plugin directory
   const pluginPath = path.join(process.cwd());
 
-  const cliServer = await runCLI({
+  let cliServer;
+  try {
+    cliServer = await runCLI({
     command: 'server',
     php: '8.3',
     wp: 'latest',
@@ -48,6 +50,11 @@ async function globalSetup(): Promise<void> {
       ],
     },
   });
+  } catch (error) {
+    // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
+    console.error('Failed to start WordPress Playground:', error);
+    throw error;
+  }
 
   // Store the server instance globally for teardown
   (global as any).cliServer = cliServer;
@@ -55,8 +62,50 @@ async function globalSetup(): Promise<void> {
   // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
   console.log('WordPress Playground server started on http://127.0.0.1:9400');
 
-  // Wait a bit for the server to be fully ready
-  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 2000));
+  // Wait for WordPress to be fully ready by polling the health endpoint
+  const maxAttempts = 30;
+  const delayMs = 2000;
+  let attempts = 0;
+  let lastError: Error | null = null;
+
+  while (attempts < maxAttempts) {
+    try {
+      const controller = new AbortController();
+      const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), 5000);
+
+      const response = await fetch('http://127.0.0.1:9400/wp-admin/', {
+        signal: controller.signal,
+      });
+
+      clearTimeout(timeoutId);
+
+      if (response.ok || response.status === 302) {
+        // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
+        console.log(`WordPress is ready after ${attempts + 1} attempt(s)`);
+        lastError = null;
+        break;
+      }
+    } catch (error) {
+      lastError = error as Error;
+      // Server not ready yet, continue polling
+    }
+
+    attempts++;
+    if (attempts < maxAttempts) {
+      // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
+      console.log(`Waiting for WordPress to be ready... (attempt ${attempts}/${maxAttempts})`);
+      await new Promise<void>((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, delayMs));
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (attempts >= maxAttempts) {
+    // eslint-disable-next-line no-console
+    console.error('Last error:', lastError);
+    throw new Error('WordPress Playground failed to start within the expected time');
+  }
+
+  // Additional wait for plugin initialization
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 1000));
 }
 
 export default globalSetup;