diff --git a/src/op25Handler/op25Handler.mjs b/src/op25Handler/op25Handler.mjs
index 01a9ebd..09eecbf 100644
--- a/src/op25Handler/op25Handler.mjs
+++ b/src/op25Handler/op25Handler.mjs
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ dotenv.config();
 let currentSystem = undefined;
 let crashDetectionInterval; // Variable to store the crash detection interval ID
 
+// Sleep utility to add delays between retries
+const sleep = (ms) => new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
+
 /**
  * Checks the health of the OP25 web portal by making an HTTP HEAD request.
  * If the portal does not respond or there is an issue, retries a specified number of times.
@@ -25,7 +28,7 @@ const checkServiceHealth = async () => {
     try {
         log.INFO("Checking OP25 web portal health...");
         // Perform an HTTP HEAD request to the web portal with a 5-second timeout
-        await axios.head('http://localhost:8081', { timeout: 5000 });
+        await axios({ method: "get", url: 'http://localhost:8081', timeout: 5000 });
         log.INFO("Web portal is healthy.");
     } catch (error) {
         if (error.code === 'ECONNABORTED') {
@@ -40,10 +43,13 @@ const checkServiceHealth = async () => {
 
         // Retry mechanism
         const retryAttempts = 3;
+        const delayBetweenRetries = 3000; // 3 seconds delay
+
         for (let i = 1; i <= retryAttempts; i++) {
             log.INFO(`Retrying to check web portal health... Attempt ${i}/${retryAttempts}`);
             try {
-                await axios.head('http://localhost:8081', { timeout: 5000 });
+                await sleep(delayBetweenRetries); // Add delay before retrying
+                await axios({ method: "get", url: 'http://localhost:8081', timeout: 5000 });
                 log.INFO("Web portal is healthy on retry.");
                 return;
             } catch (retryError) {