diff --git a/.github/workflows/reusable-build-workflow.yml b/.github/workflows/reusable-build-workflow.yml
index 4ff0558b..6fa12690 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/reusable-build-workflow.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/reusable-build-workflow.yml
@@ -66,6 +66,12 @@ jobs:
         with:
           submodules: recursive
 
+      # dispatch simulator boot in bg coz it take a while to boot-up fresh
+      - name: Boot Simulator for testing
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p build/logs
+          make -B boot-sim-async | tee -a build/logs/test.log
+
       - name: Install dependencies - ldid & xcbeautify & xcpretty
         run: |
           brew install ldid xcbeautify
@@ -246,8 +252,12 @@ jobs:
       - name: Convert to IPA
         run: make ipa | tee -a build/logs/build.log
 
-      - name: Boot Simulator for testing
-        run: make -B boot-sim | tee -a build/logs/test.log
+
+      # we expect simulator to have been booted by now, so exit otherwise
+      - name: Simulator Boot Check
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p build/logs
+          make -B sim-boot-check | tee -a build/logs/test.log
 
       - name: Start Recording UI tests (if DEBUG_RECORD_TESTS is set to 1)
         if: ${{ vars.DEBUG_RECORD_TESTS == '1' }}
@@ -261,7 +271,7 @@ jobs:
         # using 'tee' to intercept stdout and log for detailed build-log
         run: |
           NSUnbufferedIO=YES make -B build-and-test 2>&1 | tee -a build/logs/test.log | xcbeautify --renderer github-actions && exit ${PIPESTATUS[0]}
-        # NSUnbufferedIO=YES make boot-sim build-and-test 2>&1 | tee build/logs/test.log | xcpretty -r junit --output ./build/tests/test-results.xml && exit ${PIPESTATUS[0]}
+        # NSUnbufferedIO=YES make -B build-and-test 2>&1 | tee build/logs/test.log | xcpretty -r junit --output ./build/tests/test-results.xml && exit ${PIPESTATUS[0]}
 
       - name: Stop Recording tests
         if: ${{ always() && env.RECORD_PID != '' }}
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 192bfcc1..5a523e76 100755
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -208,19 +208,23 @@ build-and-test:
         # code cov probably cause full recompilation of tests even if archive target was just invoked before tests
     	# -enableCodeCoverage YES \
 
-boot-sim:
+boot-sim-async:
 	@if xcrun simctl list devices "iPhone 16 Pro" | grep -q "Booted"; then \
 		echo "Simulator 'iPhone 16 Pro' is already booted."; \
 	else \
-		echo "Booting simulator 'iPhone 16 Pro'..."; \
-		xcrun simctl boot "iPhone 16 Pro"; \
-		\
-		if xcrun simctl list devices "iPhone 16 Pro" | grep -q "Booted"; then \
-			echo "Simulator 'iPhone 16 Pro' is now booted."; \
-		else \
-			echo "Simulator bootup failed..."; \
-			exit 1; \
-		fi \
+		echo "Booting simulator 'iPhone 16 Pro' asynchronously..."; \
+		# Dispatch boot in the background  
+		xcrun simctl boot "iPhone 16 Pro" & \
+		echo "Simulator boot command dispatched."; \
+	fi
+
+sim-boot-check:
+	@echo "Checking simulator boot status..."
+	@if xcrun simctl list devices "iPhone 16 Pro" | grep -q "Booted"; then \
+		echo "Simulator 'iPhone 16 Pro' is booted."; \
+	else \
+		echo "Simulator bootup failed or is not booted yet."; \
+		exit 1; \
 	fi
 
 clean-build: