diff --git a/templates/hap_suspended_backend.tpl b/templates/hap_suspended_backend.tpl
index b8621e4..6fb76ff 100644
--- a/templates/hap_suspended_backend.tpl
+++ b/templates/hap_suspended_backend.tpl
@@ -10,4 +10,9 @@ backend bk_suspended
     option http-server-close
     http-request set-header X-Forwarded-Proto https if { ssl_fc }
     http-request set-header X-Forwarded-For %[src]
-    server suspended {{ target }} check inter 30s
+    # init-addr last,none: tolerate startup-time DNS resolution failure
+    # (the upstream container may not be up yet when haproxy-manager starts).
+    # resolvers docker_dns: re-resolve via Docker's embedded DNS at 127.0.0.11
+    # so the server picks up the real IP once the upstream becomes available
+    # (the docker_dns block is defined in hap_header.tpl).
+    server suspended {{ target }} check inter 30s init-addr last,none resolvers docker_dns