diff --git a/docker/docker-compose.yml b/docker/docker-compose.yml
--- a/docker/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker/docker-compose.yml
@@ -295,6 +295,25 @@
       - "./conf/web.yml:/web.yml:ro"
       - "./services/swh-web/entrypoint.sh:/entrypoint.sh:ro"
 
+  swh-web-cron:
+    build: ./
+    image: swh/stack
+    depends_on:
+      - swh-web
+    env_file:
+      - ./env/common_python.env
+      - ./env/01-web-db.env
+      - ./env/02-web-db.env
+    environment:
+      VERBOSITY: 2
+      DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE: swh.web.settings.production
+      SWH_CONFIG_FILENAME: /web.yml
+    entrypoint: /entrypoint.sh
+    command: cron
+    volumes:
+      - "./conf/web.yml:/web.yml:ro"
+      - "./services/swh-web/entrypoint.sh:/entrypoint.sh:ro"
+
   swh-deposit-db:
     image: postgres:12
     env_file:
diff --git a/docker/services/swh-web/entrypoint.sh b/docker/services/swh-web/entrypoint.sh
--- a/docker/services/swh-web/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/docker/services/swh-web/entrypoint.sh
@@ -22,6 +22,16 @@
     "shell")
         exec bash -i
         ;;
+    "cron")
+        echo "Start periodic save code now refresh statuses routine (in background)"
+        exec sh -c 'trap exit TERM INT; while :; do
+        (date && django-admin refresh_savecodenow_statuses \
+                  --settings=${DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE} 2>&1)
+        sleep 15 &
+        wait ${!}
+        done'
+        ;;
+
      *)
         wait_pgsql
 
@@ -35,17 +45,6 @@
             cat $create_user_script | python3 -m swh.web.manage shell
         done
 
-        echo "Start periodic save code now refresh statuses routine (in background)"
-        (
-            while true
-            do
-                (date && django-admin refresh_savecodenow_statuses \
-                    --settings=${DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE} 2>&1) >> /tmp/refresh-statuses.log
-                sleep 15
-            done
-        ) &
-        disown
-
         echo "starting the swh-web server"
         if [[ -d /src/swh-web ]] ; then
             # run django development server when overriding swh-web sources