diff --git a/mcp-server/observer.ts b/mcp-server/observer.ts
index 1150af1..9984fb5 100644
--- a/mcp-server/observer.ts
+++ b/mcp-server/observer.ts
@@ -642,7 +642,7 @@ async function main() {
   console.error(`[observer] started — cycle=${CYCLE_SECS}s, gateway=${GATEWAY}, port=${OBSERVER_PORT}`);
 
   // Run a health check first
-  const health = await fetch(`${GATEWAY}/health`).then(r => r.json()).catch(() => null);
+  const health = await fetch(`${GATEWAY}/health`).then(r => r.ok ? r.text() : null).catch(() => null);
   if (!health) {
     console.error("[observer] gateway unreachable — exiting");
     process.exit(1);