diff --git a/kubernetes/dspace-deployment.yaml b/kubernetes/dspace-deployment.yaml
index 557f890cfeb406e2053a9b574fa6fde0e8b6ba99..7cdf8a8301d80bb685ab3d6fd4441887b0bd5e8a 100644
--- a/kubernetes/dspace-deployment.yaml
+++ b/kubernetes/dspace-deployment.yaml
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@ spec:
       labels:
         io.kompose.service: dspace
     spec:
+      initContainers:
+      - image: postgres
+        name: clarin-dspace-check-db-ready
+        command: ['sh', '-c',
+          'until pg_isready -h postgres -p 5432;
+          do echo waiting for database; sleep 2; done;']
       containers:
       - env:
         - name: DSPACE_USER