diff --git a/backend/services/deploy.sh b/backend/services/deploy.sh
index f9c5c0b5..eb2b5d90 100755
--- a/backend/services/deploy.sh
+++ b/backend/services/deploy.sh
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ up() {
     # Note: check /connectors not / — Jetty responds on / before Kafka Connect REST is initialized
     log_info "Waiting for Debezium Connect REST API to be ready..."
     for i in {1..60}; do
-        if curl -s http://localhost:8084/connectors > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+        if curl -sf http://localhost:8084/connectors > /dev/null 2>&1; then
             log_info "Debezium Connect REST API is ready!"
             break
         fi
diff --git a/backend/services/scripts/debezium/register-connectors.sh b/backend/services/scripts/debezium/register-connectors.sh
index 6d8e9d66..cdecc684 100644
--- a/backend/services/scripts/debezium/register-connectors.sh
+++ b/backend/services/scripts/debezium/register-connectors.sh
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ echo "Force: $FORCE"
 echo ""
 echo "Waiting for Debezium Connect REST API to be ready..."
 for i in $(seq 1 $MAX_RETRIES); do
-    if curl -s "$CONNECT_URL/connectors" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+    if curl -sf "$CONNECT_URL/connectors" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
         echo "Debezium Connect REST API is ready!"
         break
     fi
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ done
 # Check existing connectors
 echo ""
 echo "Checking existing connectors..."
-EXISTING=$(curl -s "$CONNECT_URL/connectors")
+EXISTING=$(curl -sf "$CONNECT_URL/connectors" 2>/dev/null || echo "[]")
 echo "Existing connectors: $EXISTING"
 
 # Substitute environment variables in JSON config