diff --git a/ext/dapr-ext-workflow/dapr/ext/workflow/workflow_runtime.py b/ext/dapr-ext-workflow/dapr/ext/workflow/workflow_runtime.py
index 58b0912a..bd28187f 100644
--- a/ext/dapr-ext-workflow/dapr/ext/workflow/workflow_runtime.py
+++ b/ext/dapr-ext-workflow/dapr/ext/workflow/workflow_runtime.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 """
 
 import inspect
+import time
 from functools import wraps
 from typing import Optional, Sequence, TypeVar, Union
 
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ def __init__(
         maximum_thread_pool_workers: Optional[int] = None,
     ):
         self._logger = Logger('WorkflowRuntime', logger_options)
+
         metadata = tuple()
         if settings.DAPR_API_TOKEN:
             metadata = ((DAPR_API_TOKEN_HEADER, settings.DAPR_API_TOKEN),)
@@ -86,10 +88,19 @@ def register_workflow(self, fn: Workflow, *, name: Optional[str] = None):
 
         def orchestrationWrapper(ctx: task.OrchestrationContext, inp: Optional[TInput] = None):
             """Responsible to call Workflow function in orchestrationWrapper"""
-            daprWfContext = DaprWorkflowContext(ctx, self._logger.get_options())
-            if inp is None:
-                return fn(daprWfContext)
-            return fn(daprWfContext, inp)
+            instance_id = getattr(ctx, 'instance_id', 'unknown')
+
+            try:
+                daprWfContext = DaprWorkflowContext(ctx, self._logger.get_options())
+                if inp is None:
+                    result = fn(daprWfContext)
+                else:
+                    result = fn(daprWfContext, inp)
+                return result
+            except Exception as e:
+                self._logger.exception(f"Workflow execution failed - "
+                                 f"instance_id: {instance_id}, error: {e}")
+                raise
 
         if hasattr(fn, '_workflow_registered'):
             # whenever a workflow is registered, it has a _dapr_alternate_name attribute
@@ -152,10 +163,19 @@ def register_activity(self, fn: Activity, *, name: Optional[str] = None):
 
         def activityWrapper(ctx: task.ActivityContext, inp: Optional[TInput] = None):
             """Responsible to call Activity function in activityWrapper"""
-            wfActivityContext = WorkflowActivityContext(ctx)
-            if inp is None:
-                return fn(wfActivityContext)
-            return fn(wfActivityContext, inp)
+            activity_id = getattr(ctx, 'task_id', 'unknown')
+
+            try:
+                wfActivityContext = WorkflowActivityContext(ctx)
+                if inp is None:
+                    result = fn(wfActivityContext)
+                else:
+                    result = fn(wfActivityContext, inp)
+                return result
+            except Exception as e:
+                self._logger.exception(f"Activity execution failed - "
+                                 f"task_id: {activity_id}, error: {e}")
+                raise
 
         if hasattr(fn, '_activity_registered'):
             # whenever an activity is registered, it has a _dapr_alternate_name attribute
@@ -174,13 +194,80 @@ def activityWrapper(ctx: task.ActivityContext, inp: Optional[TInput] = None):
         )
         fn.__dict__['_activity_registered'] = True
 
+    def wait_for_worker_ready(self, timeout: float = 30.0) -> bool:
+        """
+        Wait for the worker's gRPC stream to become ready to receive work items.
+        
+        This method polls the worker's is_worker_ready() method until it returns True
+        or the timeout is reached.
+
+        Args:
+            timeout: Maximum time in seconds to wait for the worker to be ready.
+                    Defaults to 30 seconds.
+
+        Returns:
+            True if the worker's gRPC stream is ready to receive work items, False if timeout.
+        """
+        if not hasattr(self.__worker, 'is_worker_ready'):
+            return False
+
+        elapsed = 0.0
+        poll_interval = 0.1  # 100ms
+
+        while elapsed < timeout:
+            if self.__worker.is_worker_ready():
+                return True
+            time.sleep(poll_interval)
+            elapsed += poll_interval
+
+        self._logger.warning(
+            f"WorkflowRuntime worker readiness check timed out after {timeout} seconds"
+        )
+        return False
+
     def start(self):
-        """Starts the listening for work items on a background thread."""
-        self.__worker.start()
+        """Starts the listening for work items on a background thread.
+        
+        This method waits for the worker's gRPC stream to be fully initialized
+        before returning, ensuring that workflows can be scheduled immediately
+        after start() completes.
+        """
+        try:
+            try:
+                self.__worker.start()
+            except Exception as start_error:
+                self._logger.exception(
+                    f"WorkflowRuntime worker did not start: {start_error}"
+                )
+                raise
+
+            # Verify the worker and its stream reader are ready
+            if hasattr(self.__worker, 'is_worker_ready'):
+                try:
+                    is_ready = self.wait_for_worker_ready(timeout=5.0)
+                    if not is_ready:
+                        raise RuntimeError("WorkflowRuntime worker and its stream are not ready")
+                    else:
+                        self._logger.debug("WorkflowRuntime worker is ready and its stream can receive work items")
+                except Exception as ready_error:
+                    self._logger.exception(
+                        f"WorkflowRuntime wait_for_worker_ready() raised exception: {ready_error}"
+                    )
+                    raise ready_error
+            else:
+                self._logger.warning(
+                    "Unable to verify stream readiness. Workflows scheduled immediately may not be received."
+                )
+        except Exception:
+            raise
+
 
     def shutdown(self):
         """Stops the listening for work items on a background thread."""
-        self.__worker.stop()
+        try:
+            self.__worker.stop()
+        except Exception:
+            raise
 
     def versioned_workflow(
         self,