diff --git a/playbooks/zuul/templates/group_vars/zuul-lb.yaml.j2 b/playbooks/zuul/templates/group_vars/zuul-lb.yaml.j2
index 51cadd9d3f..891e230fb2 100644
--- a/playbooks/zuul/templates/group_vars/zuul-lb.yaml.j2
+++ b/playbooks/zuul/templates/group_vars/zuul-lb.yaml.j2
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ zuul_lb_listeners:
   - name: balance_zuul_http
     bind:
       - ":::80"
-    check_option: "httpchk"
+    check_option: "httpchk HEAD /"
     servers:
       - name: "zuul02.opendev.org"
         address: "{{ (hostvars['zuul02.opendev.org'] | default({})).get('nodepool', {}).get('public_ipv4', '') }}:80"