diff --git a/jeannie b/jeannie
index 28cb384..00007fd 100755
--- a/jeannie
+++ b/jeannie
@@ -3395,6 +3395,7 @@ website_ollama_listen() {
     local models_dir="${LAB_OLLAMA_MODELS_DIR:-/data/ollama/models}"
     local dropin_dir="/etc/systemd/system/ollama.service.d"
     local dropin_file="${dropin_dir}/homelab.conf"
+    local waited=0
 
     require_debian_server "website-ollama-listen"
 
@@ -3415,8 +3416,17 @@ website_ollama_listen() {
     sudo systemctl restart ollama.service
     sudo systemctl is-active --quiet ollama.service
 
-    echo "Ollama service is active. Verifying http://${bind_address%:*}:11434/api/tags..."
-    curl -fsS "http://127.0.0.1:11434/api/tags" >/dev/null
+    echo "Ollama service is active. Waiting for http://127.0.0.1:11434/api/tags..."
+    until curl -fsS --connect-timeout 2 --max-time 5 "http://127.0.0.1:11434/api/tags" >/dev/null 2>&1; do
+        waited=$((waited + 2))
+        if ((waited >= 60)); then
+            echo "Ollama service did not expose the local API after ${waited}s." >&2
+            echo "Recent service logs:" >&2
+            sudo journalctl -u ollama.service -n 80 --no-pager >&2 || true
+            exit 1
+        fi
+        sleep 2
+    done
     echo "Ollama API is reachable on the Debian host."
 }