diff --git a/playwright.config.ts b/playwright.config.ts
index 6d510c8d68d..ccbb79d2d84 100644
--- a/playwright.config.ts
+++ b/playwright.config.ts
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ export default defineConfig({
 	],
 
 	webServer: {
-		url: 'http://127.0.0.1:8089',
+		// Don't set `url` as it would take precedence over `wait.stdout` and tests start too early
+		// url: 'http://127.0.0.1:8089',
 		// Starts the Nextcloud docker container
 		command: 'npm run start:nextcloud',
 		// we use sigterm to notify the script to stop the container
@@ -47,7 +48,8 @@ export default defineConfig({
 			signal: 'SIGTERM',
 			timeout: 10000,
 		},
-		reuseExistingServer: !process.env.CI,
+		// `start-nextcloud-server.mjs` only starts the server if not reachable yet.
+		reuseExistingServer: false,
 		stderr: 'pipe',
 		stdout: 'pipe',
 		// max. 5 minutes for creating the container
diff --git a/playwright/start-nextcloud-server.mjs b/playwright/start-nextcloud-server.mjs
index e36cdaedaa8..e8ca197e355 100644
--- a/playwright/start-nextcloud-server.mjs
+++ b/playwright/start-nextcloud-server.mjs
@@ -12,6 +12,15 @@ import {
 import { readFileSync } from 'fs'
 import { execSync } from 'node:child_process'
 
+async function isServerRunning() {
+	try {
+		const res = await fetch('http://127.0.0.1:8089/status.php')
+		return res.ok
+	} catch {
+		return false
+	}
+}
+
 async function start() {
 	const appinfo = readFileSync('appinfo/info.xml').toString()
 	const maxVersion = appinfo.match(
@@ -41,9 +50,14 @@ process.on('SIGTERM', stop)
 process.on('SIGINT', stop)
 
 // Start the Nextcloud docker container
-const ip = await start()
-await waitOnNextcloud(ip)
-await configureNextcloud(['text', 'viewer'])
+if (await isServerRunning()) {
+	// eslint-disable-next-line no-console
+	console.log('└─ Nextcloud is now ready to use')
+} else {
+	const ip = await start()
+	await waitOnNextcloud(ip)
+	await configureNextcloud(['text', 'viewer'])
+}
 
 // Idle to wait for shutdown
 while (true) {