diff --git a/modules/trino/testcontainers/trino/__init__.py b/modules/trino/testcontainers/trino/__init__.py
index 97e3f9de..b9197ba2 100644
--- a/modules/trino/testcontainers/trino/__init__.py
+++ b/modules/trino/testcontainers/trino/__init__.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #    under the License.
 import re
+import time
 
 from testcontainers.core.config import testcontainers_config as c
 from testcontainers.core.generic import DbContainer
@@ -44,10 +45,16 @@ def _connect(self) -> None:
             port=self.get_exposed_port(self.port),
             user=self.user,
         )
-        cur = conn.cursor()
-        cur.execute("SELECT 1")
-        cur.fetchall()
-        conn.close()
+        deadline = time.time() + c.max_tries
+        while time.time() < deadline:
+            try:
+                cur = conn.cursor()
+                cur.execute("SELECT * FROM tpch.tiny.nation LIMIT 1")
+                cur.fetchall()
+                return
+            except Exception:
+                time.sleep(c.sleep_time)
+        raise TimeoutError(f"Trino did not start within {c.max_tries:.3f} seconds")
 
     def get_connection_url(self):
         return f"trino://{self.user}@{self.get_container_host_ip()}:{self.port}"