diff --git a/pkg/container/docker_run.go b/pkg/container/docker_run.go
index af39c991e54..a505726387e 100644
--- a/pkg/container/docker_run.go
+++ b/pkg/container/docker_run.go
@@ -170,8 +170,26 @@ func (cr *containerReference) Remove() common.Executor {
 }
 
 func (cr *containerReference) GetHealth(ctx context.Context) Health {
-	resp, err := cr.cli.ContainerInspect(ctx, cr.id)
 	logger := common.Logger(ctx)
+
+	// In dry-run mode, containers are not actually created, so return healthy status
+	if common.Dryrun(ctx) {
+		logger.Debugf("Dry-run mode: returning healthy status for container health check")
+		return HealthHealthy
+	}
+
+	// Add safety checks for nil Docker client and empty container ID
+	if cr.cli == nil {
+		logger.Errorf("Docker client is nil, cannot inspect container health")
+		return HealthUnHealthy
+	}
+
+	if cr.id == "" {
+		logger.Debugf("Container ID is empty, cannot inspect container health")
+		return HealthUnHealthy
+	}
+
+	resp, err := cr.cli.ContainerInspect(ctx, cr.id)
 	if err != nil {
 		logger.Errorf("failed to query container health %s", err)
 		return HealthUnHealthy
diff --git a/pkg/runner/run_context.go b/pkg/runner/run_context.go
index f6e4dec2755..3334f155ced 100644
--- a/pkg/runner/run_context.go
+++ b/pkg/runner/run_context.go
@@ -577,6 +577,14 @@ func (rc *RunContext) startServiceContainers(_ string) common.Executor {
 
 func (rc *RunContext) waitForServiceContainer(c container.ExecutionsEnvironment) common.Executor {
 	return func(ctx context.Context) error {
+		logger := common.Logger(ctx)
+
+		// In dry-run mode, service containers are not actually created, so skip health checks
+		if common.Dryrun(ctx) {
+			logger.Debugf("Dry-run mode: skipping service container health check")
+			return nil
+		}
+
 		sctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, time.Minute*5)
 		defer cancel()
 		health := container.HealthStarting
diff --git a/pkg/runner/run_context_dryrun_test.go b/pkg/runner/run_context_dryrun_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f7ef863a947
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/runner/run_context_dryrun_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+package runner
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/nektos/act/pkg/common"
+	"github.com/nektos/act/pkg/container"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func TestServiceContainerWorkflowDryRun(t *testing.T) {
+	// Test the actual functionality: service containers should work in dry-run mode
+	// This reproduces the exact scenario that was causing segmentation faults
+
+	ctx := common.WithDryrun(context.Background(), true)
+
+	// Create service containers like the workflow that was failing
+	serviceContainers := []container.ExecutionsEnvironment{
+		container.NewContainer(&container.NewContainerInput{
+			Image: "postgres:15-alpine",
+			Name:  "postgres-service",
+		}),
+	}
+
+	// Create RunContext with service containers (the actual failing scenario)
+	rc := &RunContext{
+		ServiceContainers: serviceContainers,
+	}
+
+	// Test the actual workflow that was crashing:
+	// 1. waitForServiceContainers calls waitForServiceContainer for each service
+	// 2. waitForServiceContainer calls GetHealth() in a timeout loop
+	// 3. GetHealth() should handle the case where Docker client isn't available (dry-run)
+
+	// This should complete without segmentation fault
+	err := rc.waitForServiceContainers()(ctx)
+	assert.NoError(t, err, "Service container workflow should work in dry-run mode")
+
+	// Verify that individual health checks also work (the core of the bug)
+	for _, serviceContainer := range serviceContainers {
+		health := serviceContainer.GetHealth(ctx)
+		// In dry-run mode, we expect containers to report as healthy
+		// (since they're not actually running, we mock them as ready)
+		assert.Equal(t, container.HealthHealthy, health,
+			"Service containers should report healthy in dry-run mode")
+	}
+}