diff --git a/dashcaddy-api/__tests__/health-endpoints.test.js b/dashcaddy-api/__tests__/health-endpoints.test.js
index 5e01b8e..e8c2c48 100644
--- a/dashcaddy-api/__tests__/health-endpoints.test.js
+++ b/dashcaddy-api/__tests__/health-endpoints.test.js
@@ -105,10 +105,7 @@ function buildApp({ configOk = true, servicesOk = true, dockerOk = true, caddyOk
 
     try {
       const caddyUrl = config.CADDY_ADMIN_URL || 'http://localhost:2019';
-      const controller = new AbortController();
-      const timeout = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), 3000);
-      const response = await fetch(`${caddyUrl}/config/`, { signal: controller.signal });
-      clearTimeout(timeout);
+      const response = await fetch(`${caddyUrl}/config/apps/http/servers/srv0/listen`, { signal: AbortSignal.timeout(10000) });
       checks.caddy = { ok: response.ok, status: response.status };
       if (!response.ok) allOk = false;
     } catch (e) {
diff --git a/dashcaddy-api/__tests__/health-probe-aliases.test.js b/dashcaddy-api/__tests__/health-probe-aliases.test.js
index 50683e8..bc0d263 100644
--- a/dashcaddy-api/__tests__/health-probe-aliases.test.js
+++ b/dashcaddy-api/__tests__/health-probe-aliases.test.js
@@ -109,10 +109,7 @@ function buildApp({ configOk = true, servicesOk = true, dockerOk = true } = {})
     }
     try {
       const caddyUrl = config.CADDY_ADMIN_URL || 'http://localhost:2019';
-      const controller = new AbortController();
-      const timeout = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), 3000);
-      const response = await fetch(`${caddyUrl}/config/`, { signal: controller.signal });
-      clearTimeout(timeout);
+      const response = await fetch(`${caddyUrl}/config/apps/http/servers/srv0/listen`, { signal: AbortSignal.timeout(10000) });
       checks.caddy = { ok: response.ok, status: response.status };
       if (!response.ok) allOk = false;
     } catch (e) {
diff --git a/dashcaddy-api/src/app.js b/dashcaddy-api/src/app.js
index 552a64c..e1cca0f 100644
--- a/dashcaddy-api/src/app.js
+++ b/dashcaddy-api/src/app.js
@@ -727,14 +727,14 @@ async function createApp() {
     }
 
     // Check 4: Caddy admin API reachable
+    // Use fetchT() (NOT native fetch) because undici fetch rejects Caddy admin
+    // on :2019, and probe the LIGHTEST endpoint (srv0/listen = 9 bytes) to avoid
+    // head-of-line blocking when /load or another config mutation is in flight.
+    // A previous `/config/` probe hit the 3s AbortController timeout with
+    // "This operation was aborted" while Caddy was actually healthy.
     try {
       const caddyUrl = config.CADDY_ADMIN_URL || 'http://localhost:2019';
-      const controller = new AbortController();
-      const timeout = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), 3000);
-      const response = await fetch(`${caddyUrl}/config/`, {
-        signal: controller.signal
-      });
-      clearTimeout(timeout);
+      const response = await fetchT(`${caddyUrl}/config/apps/http/servers/srv0/listen`, {}, 10000);
       checks.caddy = { ok: response.ok, status: response.status };
       if (!response.ok) allOk = false;
     } catch (e) {