diff --git a/system_test/fixture.py b/system_test/fixture.py
index 88e802dc..900bfbf2 100644
--- a/system_test/fixture.py
+++ b/system_test/fixture.py
@@ -314,15 +314,16 @@ def check_http_up():
                 if self._proc.poll() is not None:
                     raise RuntimeError('QuestDB died during startup.')
                 req = urllib.request.Request(
-                    f'http://localhost:{self.http_server_port}',
+                    f'http://localhost:{self.http_server_port}/ping',
                     method='GET')
                 try:
                     resp = urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=1)
-                    if resp.status == 200:
+                    print(resp.status)
+                    if resp.status == 204:
                         return True
                 except socket.timeout:
                     pass
-                except urllib.error.URLError:
+                except urllib.error.URLError as e:
                     pass
                 return False