diff --git a/apps/indeedhub/manifest.yml b/apps/indeedhub/manifest.yml
index f3f5b1cb..471678c4 100644
--- a/apps/indeedhub/manifest.yml
+++ b/apps/indeedhub/manifest.yml
@@ -67,14 +67,18 @@ app:
       - exec: ["sh", "-c", "grep -q nostr-provider /etc/nginx/conf.d/default.conf || sed -i 's#</head>#<script src=\"/nostr-provider.js\"></script></head>#' /etc/nginx/conf.d/default.conf"]
       - exec: ["nginx", "-s", "reload"]
 
+  # TCP liveness on the nginx port, NOT an http GET of /. nginx binds 7777 at
+  # startup (before workers), so this passes immediately and stays green under
+  # load. An http check of / runs the SPA + sub_filter and false-fails when the
+  # node is busy → the reconciler then treats the frontend as wedged and
+  # recreates it in a loop (observed churning the frontend on the loaded .198).
   health_check:
-    type: http
-    endpoint: http://localhost:7777
-    path: /
+    type: tcp
+    endpoint: localhost:7777
     interval: 30s
-    timeout: 10s
-    retries: 3
-    start_period: 40s
+    timeout: 5s
+    retries: 5
+    start_period: 30s
 
   interfaces:
     main: