I am not running HibernateSearchWithKarafIT against a running container, but trying to install the feature file into a running container as described above.

Ok, that makes sense.

I was expecting it to work, given that HibernateSearchWithKarafIT in theory does the same: install and run Karaf and depoy the feature file.

Right. I would suppose so as well, but tbh I am not sure if there is anything else going on. Are you actually saying that if you look at the logs of the HibernateSearchWithKarafIT indeed has the same problem and still passes?

I've enhanced the 'steps to reproduced' in the description.

Thanks