diff --git a/docker/production/start-app.sh b/docker/production/start-app.sh
index f6255c9..0d0df99 100644
--- a/docker/production/start-app.sh
+++ b/docker/production/start-app.sh
@@ -5,9 +5,24 @@ if [ ! -f /var/www/html/backend/.env ]; then
     cp /var/www/html/backend/.env.example /var/www/html/backend/.env 2>/dev/null || touch /var/www/html/backend/.env
 fi
 
-# Wait for database to be ready
+# Wait for database to be ready using PHP
 echo "Waiting for database..."
-while ! mysql -h db -u ffr_user -pffr_password --connect-timeout=2 -e "SELECT 1" >/dev/null 2>&1; do
+until php -r "
+\$host = getenv('DB_HOST') ?: 'db';
+\$user = getenv('DB_USERNAME') ?: 'ffr_user';
+\$pass = getenv('DB_PASSWORD');
+\$db = getenv('DB_DATABASE') ?: 'ffr';
+try {
+    \$pdo = new PDO(\"mysql:host=\$host;dbname=\$db\", \$user, \$pass, [
+        PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE => PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION,
+        PDO::MYSQL_ATTR_SSL_VERIFY_SERVER_CERT => false
+    ]);
+    echo 'Database ready';
+    exit(0);
+} catch (Exception \$e) {
+    exit(1);
+}
+" 2>/dev/null; do
     echo "Database not ready, waiting..."
     sleep 1
 done