diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index a4fdad9..c3041d3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -211,11 +211,15 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@3d3c42e5aac5ba805825da76410c181273ba90b1 # v7.0.1
         with:
           persist-credentials: false
+      - name: Start the pinned ClickHouse in the background
+        # The server starts while nextest installs and the archives download.
+        # "Wait for ClickHouse" joins it before the suites run.
+        run: |
+          { docker compose up -d --wait; echo $? > "$RUNNER_TEMP/clickhouse-up.status"; } \
+              > "$RUNNER_TEMP/clickhouse-up.log" 2>&1 &
       - uses: taiki-e/install-action@3f74d7c16a4242f1c95561e98edc25d36adb4375 # v2.87.12
         with:
           tool: cargo-nextest@0.9.140
-      - name: Start the pinned ClickHouse
-        run: make up
       # Each group downloads the archives scripts/test-group.sh runs it
       # from, and a group that lacks one fails on the missing file.
       - name: Download the native crate's suites
@@ -245,6 +249,14 @@ jobs:
         with:
           name: refemu
           path: target/release
+      - name: Wait for ClickHouse
+        run: |
+          for _ in $(seq 300); do
+              [ -f "$RUNNER_TEMP/clickhouse-up.status" ] && break
+              sleep 1
+          done
+          cat "$RUNNER_TEMP/clickhouse-up.log"
+          make up
       - name: The group's suites
         env:
           CLICKHOUSE_HOST: localhost
@@ -276,16 +288,28 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@3d3c42e5aac5ba805825da76410c181273ba90b1 # v7.0.1
         with:
           persist-credentials: false
+      - name: Start the pinned ClickHouse in the background
+        # The server starts while nextest installs and the archives download.
+        # "Wait for ClickHouse" joins it before the suites run.
+        run: |
+          { docker compose up -d --wait; echo $? > "$RUNNER_TEMP/clickhouse-up.status"; } \
+              > "$RUNNER_TEMP/clickhouse-up.log" 2>&1 &
       - uses: taiki-e/install-action@3f74d7c16a4242f1c95561e98edc25d36adb4375 # v2.87.12
         with:
           tool: cargo-nextest@0.9.140
-      - name: Start the pinned ClickHouse
-        run: make up
       - name: Download the native crate's suites
         uses: actions/download-artifact@3e5f45b2cfb9172054b4087a40e8e0b5a5461e7c # v8.0.1
         with:
           name: native-tests
           path: target/nextest
+      - name: Wait for ClickHouse
+        run: |
+          for _ in $(seq 300); do
+              [ -f "$RUNNER_TEMP/clickhouse-up.status" ] && break
+              sleep 1
+          done
+          cat "$RUNNER_TEMP/clickhouse-up.log"
+          make up
       - name: The group's suites
         env:
           CLICKHOUSE_HOST: localhost