diff --git a/modules/postgresql/src/main/java/org/testcontainers/containers/PostgreSQLContainer.java b/modules/postgresql/src/main/java/org/testcontainers/containers/PostgreSQLContainer.java
index 4824654957f..4e4c4c9d4b0 100644
--- a/modules/postgresql/src/main/java/org/testcontainers/containers/PostgreSQLContainer.java
+++ b/modules/postgresql/src/main/java/org/testcontainers/containers/PostgreSQLContainer.java
@@ -149,6 +149,9 @@ public SELF withPassword(final String password) {
 
     @Override
     protected void waitUntilContainerStarted() {
+        // Same gate as the non-deprecated container: strategy first, then the
+        // JDBC readiness check from JdbcDatabaseContainer. See issue #11981.
         getWaitStrategy().waitUntilReady(this);
+        super.waitUntilContainerStarted();
     }
 }
diff --git a/modules/postgresql/src/main/java/org/testcontainers/postgresql/PostgreSQLContainer.java b/modules/postgresql/src/main/java/org/testcontainers/postgresql/PostgreSQLContainer.java
index 27521487a23..91dfc30b28a 100644
--- a/modules/postgresql/src/main/java/org/testcontainers/postgresql/PostgreSQLContainer.java
+++ b/modules/postgresql/src/main/java/org/testcontainers/postgresql/PostgreSQLContainer.java
@@ -139,6 +139,12 @@ public PostgreSQLContainer withPassword(final String password) {
 
     @Override
     protected void waitUntilContainerStarted() {
+        // Run the configured wait strategy first (defaults to the log-output
+        // strategy), then the JDBC readiness gate from JdbcDatabaseContainer:
+        // a real host-side connection running the test query. The log line
+        // alone can precede mapped-port reachability on Docker Desktop/Colima,
+        // giving Connection refused on first connect. See issue #11981.
         getWaitStrategy().waitUntilReady(this);
+        super.waitUntilContainerStarted();
     }
 }