diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 08d9325..a744182 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -49,6 +49,12 @@ services:
       - IPFS_API=/dns/ipfs/tcp/5001
       - ANCHOR_BACKUP_DIR=/data/anchors
       # DATABASE_URL, ARTDAG_DOMAIN, ARTDAG_USER, JWT_SECRET from .env file
+    healthcheck:
+      test: ["CMD", "python", "-c", "import urllib.request; urllib.request.urlopen('http://localhost:8200/')"]
+      interval: 10s
+      timeout: 5s
+      retries: 3
+      start_period: 15s
     volumes:
       - l2_data:/data/l2  # Still needed for RSA keys
       - anchor_backup:/data/anchors  # Persistent anchor proofs (survives DB wipes)
@@ -60,6 +66,8 @@ services:
       - ipfs
     deploy:
       replicas: 1
+      update_config:
+        order: start-first
       restart_policy:
         condition: on-failure
       placement: