diff --git a/cypress/e2e.sh b/cypress/e2e.sh
index a847e0dd33..f80b11c923 100755
--- a/cypress/e2e.sh
+++ b/cypress/e2e.sh
@@ -79,13 +79,13 @@ echo
 
 http_response=0
 polls=0
-while [[ $http_response != "200" && $polls -lt 72 ]]; do
+while [[ $http_response != *"UP"* && $polls -lt 72 ]]; do
   ((polls++))
   sleep 5
   echo "Waiting for backend to start at ${TEST_ENV}${BACKEND_URL_PATH}"
   http_response=$(curl -skL -w "%{http_code}" "${TEST_ENV}${BACKEND_URL_PATH}")
 done
-if [[ $http_response -ne 200 ]]; then
+if [[ $http_response != *"UP"* ]]; then
   echo 'Backend never started. Exiting...'
   exit 1
 fi
diff --git a/lighthouse.sh b/lighthouse.sh
index c09a224401..bc2c65cfc6 100755
--- a/lighthouse.sh
+++ b/lighthouse.sh
@@ -6,13 +6,13 @@ docker compose -f docker-compose.yml -f docker-compose.ci.yml up -d --quiet-pull
 echo "Waiting for backend to start at https://localhost.simplereport.gov/api/actuator/health"
 http_response=0
 polls=0
-while [[ $http_response != "200" && $polls -lt 180 ]]; do
+while [[ $http_response != *"UP"* && $polls -lt 180 ]]; do
   ((polls++))
   sleep 2
   echo "Waiting for backend to start at https://localhost.simplereport.gov/api/actuator/health"
   http_response=$(curl -skL -w "%{http_code}" "https://localhost.simplereport.gov/api/actuator/health")
 done
-if [[ $http_response -ne 200 ]]; then
+if [[ $http_response != *"UP"* ]]; then
   echo 'Backend never started. Exiting...'
   exit 1
 fi