diff --git a/docker.go b/docker.go
index e188c25df2..e3999a7f62 100644
--- a/docker.go
+++ b/docker.go
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ type DockerContainer struct {
 	logProductionTimeout *time.Duration
 	logger               Logging
 	lifecycleHooks       []ContainerLifecycleHooks
+
+	healthStatus string // container health status, will default to healthStatusNone if no healthcheck is present
 }
 
 // SetLogger sets the logger for the container
@@ -1590,6 +1592,11 @@ func containerFromDockerResponse(ctx context.Context, response types.Container)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	// the health status of the container, if any
+	if health := container.raw.State.Health; health != nil {
+		container.healthStatus = health.Status
+	}
+
 	return &container, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/generic_test.go b/generic_test.go
index 72688876ec..c566e925c1 100644
--- a/generic_test.go
+++ b/generic_test.go
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ func TestGenericReusableContainerInSubprocess(t *testing.T) {
 			output := createReuseContainerInSubprocess(t)
 
 			// check is reuse container with WaitingFor work correctly.
-			require.True(t, strings.Contains(output, "🚧 Waiting for container id"))
+			require.True(t, strings.Contains(output, "⏳ Waiting for container id"))
 			require.True(t, strings.Contains(output, "🔔 Container is ready"))
 		}()
 	}
diff --git a/internal/config/config_test.go b/internal/config/config_test.go
index 15b135177f..efd2e054e6 100644
--- a/internal/config/config_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/config_test.go
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ func TestReadTCConfig(t *testing.T) {
 				``,
 				map[string]string{
 					"TESTCONTAINERS_RYUK_RECONNECTION_TIMEOUT": "13s",
-					"TESTCONTAINERS_RYUK_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT": "12s",
+					"TESTCONTAINERS_RYUK_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT":   "12s",
 				},
 				Config{
 					RyukReconnectionTimeout: 13 * time.Second,
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ func TestReadTCConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	ryuk.reconnection.timeout=23s`,
 				map[string]string{
 					"TESTCONTAINERS_RYUK_RECONNECTION_TIMEOUT": "13s",
-					"TESTCONTAINERS_RYUK_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT": "12s",
+					"TESTCONTAINERS_RYUK_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT":   "12s",
 				},
 				Config{
 					RyukReconnectionTimeout: 13 * time.Second,
diff --git a/lifecycle.go b/lifecycle.go
index 578773b9f5..f46318ce7c 100644
--- a/lifecycle.go
+++ b/lifecycle.go
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ var defaultReadinessHook = func() ContainerLifecycleHooks {
 				// if a Wait Strategy has been specified, wait before returning
 				if dockerContainer.WaitingFor != nil {
 					dockerContainer.logger.Printf(
-						"🚧 Waiting for container id %s image: %s. Waiting for: %+v",
+						"⏳ Waiting for container id %s image: %s. Waiting for: %+v",
 						dockerContainer.ID[:12], dockerContainer.Image, dockerContainer.WaitingFor,
 					)
 					if err := dockerContainer.WaitingFor.WaitUntilReady(ctx, c); err != nil {
diff --git a/reaper.go b/reaper.go
index 54feb90cbe..4b5fabd09c 100644
--- a/reaper.go
+++ b/reaper.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/cenkalti/backoff/v4"
+	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types"
 	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types/container"
 	"github.com/docker/docker/api/types/filters"
 	"github.com/docker/docker/errdefs"
@@ -119,6 +120,15 @@ func lookUpReaperContainer(ctx context.Context, sessionID string) (*DockerContai
 
 		reaperContainer = r
 
+		if r.healthStatus == types.Healthy || r.healthStatus == types.NoHealthcheck {
+			return nil
+		}
+
+		// if a health status is present on the container, and the container is healthy, error
+		if r.healthStatus != "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf("container %s is not healthy, wanted status=%s, got status=%s", resp[0].ID[:8], types.Healthy, r.healthStatus)
+		}
+
 		return nil
 	}, backoff.WithContext(exp, ctx))
 	if err != nil {
@@ -162,6 +172,7 @@ func reuseOrCreateReaper(ctx context.Context, sessionID string, provider ReaperP
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
+
 		return reaperInstance, nil
 	}
 
@@ -192,6 +203,27 @@ func reuseReaperContainer(ctx context.Context, sessionID string, provider Reaper
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+
+	Logger.Printf("⏳ Waiting for Reaper port to be ready")
+
+	var containerJson *types.ContainerJSON
+
+	if containerJson, err = reaperContainer.Inspect(ctx); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to inspect reaper container %s: %w", reaperContainer.ID[:8], err)
+	}
+
+	if containerJson != nil && containerJson.NetworkSettings != nil {
+		for port := range containerJson.NetworkSettings.Ports {
+			err := wait.ForListeningPort(port).
+				WithPollInterval(100*time.Millisecond).
+				WaitUntilReady(ctx, reaperContainer)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed waiting for reaper container %s port %s/%s to be ready: %w",
+					reaperContainer.ID[:8], port.Proto(), port.Port(), err)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	return &Reaper{
 		Provider:  provider,
 		SessionID: sessionID,