diff --git a/roles/common/README.md b/roles/common/README.md
index 7b06b9be..27545d40 100644
--- a/roles/common/README.md
+++ b/roles/common/README.md
@@ -106,7 +106,6 @@ For cr\_tests.yml tasks:
        - polarion ID number for each test of readiness of the CR
 
 
-
 Dependencies
 ------------
 
diff --git a/roles/common/defaults/main.yml b/roles/common/defaults/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..28cf403f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/common/defaults/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+---
+# defaults file for roles/common
diff --git a/roles/common/tasks/container_status.yml b/roles/common/tasks/container_status.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..72c96c88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/common/tasks/container_status.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+---
+- name: "[TEST] verify container status"
+  ansible.builtin.shell:
+    cmd: |
+      podman ps -a --format "{{ '{{.Names}} {{.Status}}' }}" | grep "{{ container_name }}" | awk '{print $2}'
+  changed_when: false
+  register: container_status
+
+- name: Fail if container is not 'Up'
+  ansible.builtin.fail:
+    msg: "Container '{{ container_name }}' is not in 'Up' status. Current status: {{ container_status.stdout }}"
+  when:
+    - "'Up' not in container_status.stdout"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/roles/common/tasks/service_tests.yml b/roles/common/tasks/service_tests.yml
index a6505d66..3c23e45a 100644
--- a/roles/common/tasks/service_tests.yml
+++ b/roles/common/tasks/service_tests.yml
@@ -13,4 +13,4 @@
     that:
       - "'NotFound' not in output.stderr"
     success_msg: "service {{ item }} is running."
-    fail_msg: "service {{ item }} not running. Error: {{ output.stderr }}"
\ No newline at end of file
+    fail_msg: "service {{ item }} not running. Error: {{ output.stderr }}"
diff --git a/roles/common/vars/main.yml b/roles/common/vars/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f83eed77
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roles/common/vars/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+---
+# vars file for roles/common