diff --git a/src/test/external/common.go b/src/test/external/common.go
index 0209ddadb2..5fd2e294f2 100644
--- a/src/test/external/common.go
+++ b/src/test/external/common.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 package external
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"path"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ func createPodInfoPackageWithInsecureSources(t *testing.T, temp string) {
 	exec.CmdWithPrint(zarfBinPath, "package", "create", temp, "--confirm", "--output", temp)
 }
 
-func verifyWaitSuccess(t *testing.T, timeoutMinutes time.Duration, cmd string, args []string, condition string, onTimeout string) bool {
+func waitForCondition(t *testing.T, timeoutMinutes time.Duration, cmd string, args []string, condition string) error {
 	timeout := time.After(timeoutMinutes * time.Minute)
 	for {
 		// delay check 3 seconds
@@ -39,9 +40,7 @@ func verifyWaitSuccess(t *testing.T, timeoutMinutes time.Duration, cmd string, a
 		select {
 		// on timeout abort
 		case <-timeout:
-			t.Error(onTimeout)
-
-			return false
+			return errors.New("timed out waiting for condition")
 
 			// after delay, try running
 		default:
@@ -52,7 +51,7 @@ func verifyWaitSuccess(t *testing.T, timeoutMinutes time.Duration, cmd string, a
 				t.Log(string(stdOut), err)
 			}
 			if strings.Contains(string(stdOut), condition) {
-				return true
+				return nil
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/src/test/external/docker-compose.yml b/src/test/external/docker-compose.yml
index 7e180fdbab..fcca987da7 100644
--- a/src/test/external/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/src/test/external/docker-compose.yml
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ services:
     ports:
       - "3000:3000"
       - "222:22"
+    healthcheck:
+      test: ["CMD", "curl", "-f", "http://gitea.localhost:3000/api/healthz"]
+      interval: 5s
+      timeout: 5s
+      retries: 20
   init:
     image: gitea/gitea:1.18.1
     container_name: gitea.init
diff --git a/src/test/external/ext_out_cluster_test.go b/src/test/external/ext_out_cluster_test.go
index e2cbaccefb..1eee15e718 100644
--- a/src/test/external/ext_out_cluster_test.go
+++ b/src/test/external/ext_out_cluster_test.go
@@ -81,10 +81,9 @@ func (suite *ExtOutClusterTestSuite) SetupSuite() {
 	suite.NoError(err, "unable to install the gitea-server")
 
 	// Wait for gitea to deploy properly
-	giteaArgs := []string{"inspect", "-f", "{{.State.Status}}", "gitea.init"}
-	giteaErrStr := "unable to verify the gitea container installed successfully"
-	success := verifyWaitSuccess(suite.T(), 2, "docker", giteaArgs, "exited", giteaErrStr)
-	suite.True(success, giteaErrStr)
+	giteaArgs := []string{"inspect", "-f", "{{.State.Health.Status}}", "gitea.localhost"}
+	err = waitForCondition(suite.T(), 2, "docker", giteaArgs, "healthy")
+	suite.NoError(err)
 
 	// Connect gitea to the k3d network
 	err = exec.CmdWithPrint("docker", "network", "connect", "--ip", giteaIP, network, giteaHost)