---
title: "Discussion on \"Docker Compose: depends_on and Health Checks That Actually Protect Startup (2026)\" | Hashnode"
description: "Discussion on \"Docker Compose: depends_on and Health Checks That Actually Protect Startup (2026)\". Quick one-liner: restart: unless-stopped brings containers back, but it cannot make startup safe. This episode fixes startup races with healthcheck and depends_on: condition: service_healthy.\n\n🤔 Why This Matters\nIn episode 9, we hit a painful failur..."
url: "https://hashnode.com/posts/docker-compose-dependson-and-health-checks-that-actually-protect-startup-2026/6a017e9b6440c546c0762330"
---

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# [Docker Compose: depends\_on and Health Checks That Actually Protect Startup (2026)](https://fosstechnotes.hashnode.dev/docker-compose-dependson-and-health-checks-that-actually-protect-startup-2026?utm_source=hashnode&utm_medium=feed)

Quick one-liner: restart: unless-stopped brings containers back, but it cannot make startup safe. This episode fixes startup races with healthcheck and depends\_on: condition: service\_healthy. 🤔 Why This Matters In episode 9, we hit a painful failur...

May 11 · 6 min read · fosstechnotes.hashnode.dev  
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-   [#docker](https://hashnode.com/tag/docker)
-   [#dockercompose](https://hashnode.com/tag/dockercompose)
-   [#healthcheck](https://hashnode.com/tag/healthcheck)

## Written by

[David Tio](https://hashnode.com/@dtio)

@dtio · Singapore

  
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