diff --git a/application/database/db.py b/application/database/db.py
index 50528c22e..0572193bc 100644
--- a/application/database/db.py
+++ b/application/database/db.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 from flask_sqlalchemy.model import DefaultMeta
 from sqlalchemy import func, delete, cast as sql_cast, literal, or_
 from sqlalchemy.dialects.postgresql import JSONB
-from sqlalchemy.exc import OperationalError, IntegrityError
+from sqlalchemy.exc import OperationalError, IntegrityError, SQLAlchemyError
 
 from neomodel import (
     config,
@@ -2289,7 +2289,7 @@ def health_check(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
                 "db_reachable": False,
                 "reason": "database unreachable",
             }
-        except Exception:  # pragma: no cover - defensive, never fail open
+        except SQLAlchemyError:  # pragma: no cover - defensive, never fail open
             return {
                 "ok": False,
                 "db_reachable": False,