diff --git a/deploy.sh b/deploy.sh
index 7f2b117..01aa465 100755
--- a/deploy.sh
+++ b/deploy.sh
@@ -300,7 +300,15 @@ info "Step 12: Verifying deployment..."
 
 FAIL=0
 
-if curl -sf "http://127.0.0.1:${API_PORT}/docs" > /dev/null; then
+info "  Waiting for API to be ready..."
+API_OK=0
+for i in $(seq 1 24); do
+  if curl -sf "http://127.0.0.1:${API_PORT}/docs" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+    API_OK=1; break
+  fi
+  sleep 5
+done
+if [ "$API_OK" -eq 1 ]; then
   info "  API (port ${API_PORT}): OK"
 else
   warn "  API (port ${API_PORT}): not responding — check 'docker compose logs api'"