diff --git a/.github/workflows/api-tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/api-tests.yaml
index f860834b6..609122ca6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/api-tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/api-tests.yaml
@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@ jobs:
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
           pip install requests pytest
 
+      - name: Start API server (Docker)
+        run: |
+          docker compose up -d
+          sleep 10
+
       - name: Wait for API to be ready
         run: |
           echo "Waiting for API at localhost:80..."