diff --git a/packages/opal-client/opal_client/engine/runner.py b/packages/opal-client/opal_client/engine/runner.py
index 8ef3cfcc..8e596225 100644
--- a/packages/opal-client/opal_client/engine/runner.py
+++ b/packages/opal-client/opal_client/engine/runner.py
@@ -244,6 +244,8 @@ def _init_events(self):
 
 class OpaRunner(PolicyEngineRunner):
     PANIC_DETECTION_SUBSTRINGS = [b"go/src/runtime/panic.go"]
+    MAX_HEALTH_CHECK_ATTEMPTS = 30
+    HEALTH_CHECK_INTERVAL = 1 
 
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -279,6 +281,54 @@ def get_arguments(self) -> list[str]:
 
         return args
 
+    async def _check_opa_health(self) -> bool:
+        """Check if OPA is healthy by making a request to its health endpoint."""
+        try:
+            # Get the configured address from options, default to localhost:8181
+            addr = self._options.addr if self._options.addr else ":8181"
+            host, port = addr.split(":")
+            host = host if host else "localhost"
+            
+            async with aiohttp.ClientSession() as session:
+                url = f"http://{host}:{port}/health"
+                async with session.get(url) as response:
+                    return response.status == 200
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.debug(f"OPA health check failed: {str(e)}")
+            return False
+
+    async def _wait_for_opa_ready(self) -> bool:
+        for attempt in range(self.MAX_HEALTH_CHECK_ATTEMPTS):
+            if await self._check_opa_health():
+                logger.info("OPA is healthy and ready to accept requests")
+                return True
+            
+            if attempt < self.MAX_HEALTH_CHECK_ATTEMPTS - 1:
+                logger.debug(f"OPA not ready yet, attempt {attempt + 1}/{self.MAX_HEALTH_CHECK_ATTEMPTS}")
+                await asyncio.sleep(self.HEALTH_CHECK_INTERVAL)
+        
+        logger.error(f"OPA failed to become healthy after {self.MAX_HEALTH_CHECK_ATTEMPTS} attempts")
+        return False
+
+    async def _run_start_callbacks(self):
+        """Runs callbacks after OPA process starts and is healthy."""
+        # Wait for OPA to be healthy before proceeding
+        if not await self._wait_for_opa_ready():
+            # If OPA doesn't become healthy, terminate it
+            self._terminate_engine()
+            raise Exception("OPA failed to start and become healthy")
+
+        if self._process_was_never_up_before:
+            # no need to rehydrate the first time
+            self._process_was_never_up_before = False
+            logger.info("Running policy engine initial start callbacks")
+            asyncio.create_task(
+                self._run_callbacks(self._on_process_initial_start_callbacks)
+            )
+        else:
+            logger.info("Running policy engine rehydration callbacks")
+            asyncio.create_task(self._run_callbacks(self._on_process_restart_callbacks))
+    
     @staticmethod
     def setup_opa_runner(
         options: Optional[OpaServerOptions] = None,