diff --git a/app/status/healthcheck.py b/app/status/healthcheck.py
index e704e6b73..da305c9e2 100644
--- a/app/status/healthcheck.py
+++ b/app/status/healthcheck.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ status = Blueprint('status', __name__)
 
 @status.route('/_status', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
 def show_status():
-    if request.args.get('elb', None):
+    if request.args.get('simple', None):
         return jsonify(status="ok"), 200
     else:
         return jsonify(
diff --git a/manifest-api-base.yml b/manifest-api-base.yml
index 28ca9ef5a..0a9a1a564 100644
--- a/manifest-api-base.yml
+++ b/manifest-api-base.yml
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ memory: 1G
 
 applications:
   - name: notify-api
+    health-check-type: http
+    health-check-http-endpoint: /_status?simple=true
 
   - name: notify-api-db-migration
     command: sleep infinity