diff --git a/bot_bottle/backend/docker/setup.py b/bot_bottle/backend/docker/setup.py
index 577d16d..90e52d2 100644
--- a/bot_bottle/backend/docker/setup.py
+++ b/bot_bottle/backend/docker/setup.py
@@ -27,10 +27,14 @@ def _docker_on_path() -> bool:
 def _daemon_reachable() -> bool:
     if not _docker_on_path():
         return False
-    return subprocess.run(
-        ["docker", "info"],
-        stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL, stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL, check=False,
-    ).returncode == 0
+    try:
+        return subprocess.run(
+            ["docker", "info"],
+            stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL, stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+            check=False, timeout=5,
+        ).returncode == 0
+    except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
+        return False
 
 
 def _print_install_pointer() -> None:
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_cli_start_selector.py b/tests/unit/test_cli_start_selector.py
index b091bfb..ba1a6b3 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_cli_start_selector.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_cli_start_selector.py
@@ -57,6 +57,14 @@ class TestCmdStartSelector(unittest.TestCase):
         self._bottle_picker_mock = self._bottle_picker_patch.start()
         self._bottle_picker_mock.return_value = ["claude"]  # default: one bottle selected
 
+        # name_color_modal opens /dev/tty and blocks on keyboard input on
+        # self-hosted runners that have a real controlling terminal. Stub it
+        # out like the other tui pickers so tests don't wait for a keypress.
+        self._modal_patch = patch.object(
+            tui_mod, "name_color_modal", return_value=("researcher", ""),
+        )
+        self._modal_patch.start()
+
         self._env_patch = patch.dict(os.environ, {}, clear=False)
         self._env_patch.start()
         os.environ.pop("BOT_BOTTLE_BACKEND", None)
@@ -66,6 +74,7 @@ class TestCmdStartSelector(unittest.TestCase):
         self._launch_patch.stop()
         self._agent_picker_patch.stop()
         self._bottle_picker_patch.stop()
+        self._modal_patch.stop()
         self._env_patch.stop()
 
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------