diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 74c7c47..105593e 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ ENV FLASK_SECRET=production-secret-change-me
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y \
     gcc \
     default-libmysqlclient-dev \
+    default-mysql-client \
     pkg-config \
     curl \
     && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
diff --git a/docker-entrypoint.sh b/docker-entrypoint.sh
index d47708e..3a7ada3 100644
--- a/docker-entrypoint.sh
+++ b/docker-entrypoint.sh
@@ -7,12 +7,25 @@ echo "🚀 Starting Jobs App container..."
 
 # Wait for MySQL to be ready
 echo "⏳ Waiting for MySQL to be ready..."
-while ! mysqladmin ping -h mysql -u jobs -pjobdb --silent; do
-    echo "MySQL is not ready, waiting..."
-    sleep 2
-done
-
-echo "✅ MySQL is ready!"
+python -c "
+import time
+import pymysql
+while True:
+    try:
+        conn = pymysql.connect(
+            host='mysql',
+            user='jobs',
+            password='jobdb',
+            database='jobs',
+            connect_timeout=5
+        )
+        conn.close()
+        print('✅ MySQL is ready!')
+        break
+    except pymysql.Error as e:
+        print(f'MySQL is not ready: {e}, waiting...')
+        time.sleep(2)
+"
 
 # Run database setup
 echo "🗄️ Setting up database..."