diff --git a/swh/templates/graphql/deployment.yaml b/swh/templates/graphql/deployment.yaml
--- a/swh/templates/graphql/deployment.yaml
+++ b/swh/templates/graphql/deployment.yaml
@@ -31,6 +31,19 @@
           imagePullPolicy: Always
           ports:
             - containerPort: 5013
+              name: rpc
+          startupProbe:
+            httpGet:
+              path: /
+              port: rpc
+            failureThreshold: 30
+            periodSeconds: 5
+          livenessProbe:
+            httpGet:
+              path: /
+              port: rpc
+            initialDelaySeconds: 10
+            periodSeconds: 5
           env:
           - name: PORT
             value: "5013"
@@ -52,8 +65,9 @@
               secretKeyRef:
                 name: graphql-sentry-secrets
                 key: sentry-dsn
-                # 'name' secret must exist & include key "host"
-                optional: false
+                # 'name' secret should exist & include key "host"
+                # if the setting doesn't exist, sentry pushes will be disabled
+                optional: true
           {{ end }}
           volumeMounts:
             - name: config