diff --git a/packages/core/src/browser/playwrightBrowser.ts b/packages/core/src/browser/playwrightBrowser.ts
index daffab40..8bb49cca 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/browser/playwrightBrowser.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/browser/playwrightBrowser.ts
@@ -590,8 +590,13 @@ export class PlaywrightBrowser implements AriaBrowser {
     if (!this.page) throw new Error("Browser not started");
 
     try {
-      // 1. Wait for DOM to be ready - this is critical for interactivity
-      await this.page.waitForLoadState("domcontentloaded");
+      // 1. Wait for DOM to be ready - this is critical for interactivity.
+      // Bounded by actionTimeoutMs: a page (or SPA soft-nav) that never reaches
+      // domcontentloaded must not hang the agent. On timeout we continue, since the
+      // page may still be interactive and the load wait + settle below still run.
+      await this.page.waitForLoadState("domcontentloaded", {
+        timeout: this.actionTimeoutMs,
+      });
     } catch (error) {
       // Still continue since we might be able to interact with what's loaded
     }
diff --git a/packages/core/test/playwrightBrowser.test.ts b/packages/core/test/playwrightBrowser.test.ts
index 08ba15eb..97444db1 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/playwrightBrowser.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/playwrightBrowser.test.ts
@@ -1340,4 +1340,20 @@ describe("PlaywrightBrowser", () => {
       expect(error).not.toBeInstanceOf(BrowserDisconnectedError);
     });
   });
+
+  describe("ensureOptimizedPageLoad", () => {
+    it("bounds the domcontentloaded wait with actionTimeoutMs so it can't hang indefinitely", async () => {
+      const browser = new PlaywrightBrowser({ browser: "chromium", actionTimeoutMs: 1234 });
+      const waitForLoadState = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined);
+      (browser as any).page = {
+        waitForLoadState,
+        waitForTimeout: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+      };
+
+      await (browser as any).ensureOptimizedPageLoad();
+
+      // The domcontentloaded wait must carry a timeout (previously unbounded).
+      expect(waitForLoadState).toHaveBeenCalledWith("domcontentloaded", { timeout: 1234 });
+    });
+  });
 });