diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 86a575d..3fc8ad8 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -121,6 +121,11 @@ services:
         - kontor-javalin:0.2.0-SNAPSHOT
     image: kontor-javalin:0.2.0-SNAPSHOT
     restart: unless-stopped
+    healthcheck:
+      test: ["CMD", "curl", "-f", "http://kontor-javalin:8400/health"]
+      interval: 10s
+      timeout: 5s
+      retries: 3
     networks:
       - database
       - integration
diff --git a/kontor-javalin/Dockerfile b/kontor-javalin/Dockerfile
index 92ef840..9e50434 100644
--- a/kontor-javalin/Dockerfile
+++ b/kontor-javalin/Dockerfile
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@ COPY ./gradle/libs.versions.toml ./gradle/
 RUN gradle build --no-daemon
 
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------------- #
-FROM alpine/java:21-jdk AS run
+FROM alpine/java:21-jre AS run
+
+RUN apk --no-cache add curl
 
 RUN adduser --system appuser
 USER appuser
diff --git a/kontor-javalin/src/main/java/de/thpeetz/kontor/api/Main.java b/kontor-javalin/src/main/java/de/thpeetz/kontor/api/Main.java
index 1a259be..41b2baa 100644
--- a/kontor-javalin/src/main/java/de/thpeetz/kontor/api/Main.java
+++ b/kontor-javalin/src/main/java/de/thpeetz/kontor/api/Main.java
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@ package de.thpeetz.kontor.api;
 
 import de.thpeetz.kontor.services.inmemory.InMemoryPersonReader;
 import io.javalin.Javalin;
+
+import java.util.HashMap;
+
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper;
@@ -19,6 +22,11 @@ public class Main {
 
         var app = Javalin.create().start(port);
         app.get("/ping", ctx -> ctx.result("pong"));
+        app.get("/health", ctx -> {
+            HashMap<String, String> status = new HashMap<>();
+            status.put("status", "ok");
+            ctx.json(status);
+        });
         app.get("/persons", ctx -> {
             logger.info("persons called");
             ctx.json(result);