diff --git a/src/routes.rs b/src/routes.rs
index 6d5c4ce..abca695 100644
--- a/src/routes.rs
+++ b/src/routes.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ use crate::{models::*, AppState};
 
 pub fn router(state: AppState) -> Router {
     Router::new()
+        // Health check (no auth)
+        .route("/health", get(health_check))
         // Web UI
         .route("/", get(dashboard))
         .route("/login", get(login_page).post(login_post))
@@ -29,6 +31,30 @@ pub fn router(state: AppState) -> Router {
         .with_state(state)
 }
 
+// ── Health Check ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+async fn health_check(State(state): State<AppState>) -> impl IntoResponse {
+    // Verify the database is accessible with a simple query
+    let db_ok = {
+        let db = state.db.lock().unwrap();
+        db.query_row("SELECT 1", [], |_| Ok(())).is_ok()
+    };
+
+    if db_ok {
+        (
+            StatusCode::OK,
+            Json(serde_json::json!({"ok": true, "status": "live"})),
+        )
+            .into_response()
+    } else {
+        (
+            StatusCode::SERVICE_UNAVAILABLE,
+            Json(serde_json::json!({"ok": false, "status": "database unreachable"})),
+        )
+            .into_response()
+    }
+}
+
 // ── Helpers ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 fn session_user(jar: &CookieJar, state: &AppState) -> Option<String> {