diff --git a/backend/.github/workflows/backend-ci.yml b/backend/.github/workflows/backend-ci.yml
index e387e6b..4effa39 100644
--- a/backend/.github/workflows/backend-ci.yml
+++ b/backend/.github/workflows/backend-ci.yml
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ jobs:
 
   test:
     runs-on: self-hosted
-    needs: lint
+    needs: lint  # Ensure this job runs after linting
 
     steps:
       - name: Checkout repository
@@ -53,15 +53,22 @@ jobs:
           source venv/bin/activate
           pip install -r backend/requirements.txt
 
-      - name: Start API server in background
+      - name: Start the API server
         run: |
-          source venv/bin/activate
-          nohup python backend/main.py > server.log 2>&1 &
-          sleep 5
+          nohup python backend/main.py &  # Start the API server in the background
+          # Wait for the server to be ready
+          for i in {1..10}; do
+            if curl --silent --fail http://127.0.0.1:5000/; then
+              echo "Server is up and running."
+              break
+            fi
+            echo "Waiting for server to start... Attempt $i/10"
+            sleep 3
+          done
 
       - name: Run tests with pytest
         env:
-          BASE_URL: http://127.0.0.1:5000
+          BASE_URL: http://127.0.0.1:5000  # Assuming your API is running on this address
         run: |
           source venv/bin/activate
           pytest backend/tests --maxfail=1 --disable-warnings -q