diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yaml b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yaml
index de5ef89..9baf0b4 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yaml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/deploy.yaml
@@ -84,14 +84,17 @@ jobs:
             # ── Migrations (runs inside the container) ──
             docker compose exec -T waitlist alembic upgrade head
 
-            # ── Health check ──
-            echo "Waiting for app..."
-            sleep 5
-            HTTP_CODE=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" http://localhost:80/health)
-            if [ "$HTTP_CODE" -eq 200 ]; then
-              echo "✅ Waitlist service is healthy (HTTP ${HTTP_CODE})"
-            else
-              echo "❌ Health check failed (HTTP ${HTTP_CODE})"
-              docker compose logs waitlist --tail=50
-              exit 1
-            fi
+            # ── Health check (curl with correct Host header for Caddy) ──
+            echo "Waiting for app to start..."
+            for i in 1 2 3 4 5; do
+              HTTP_CODE=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" -H "Host: adiuvai.com" http://localhost:80/health)
+              if [ "$HTTP_CODE" -eq 200 ]; then
+                echo "✅ Waitlist service is healthy (HTTP ${HTTP_CODE})"
+                exit 0
+              fi
+              echo "  Attempt $i: HTTP ${HTTP_CODE}, retrying..."
+              sleep 3
+            done
+            echo "❌ Health check failed after 5 attempts"
+            docker compose logs waitlist --tail=50
+            exit 1