diff --git a/backend/danswer/configs/app_configs.py b/backend/danswer/configs/app_configs.py
index c4cabbe488..11c6184803 100644
--- a/backend/danswer/configs/app_configs.py
+++ b/backend/danswer/configs/app_configs.py
@@ -118,6 +118,8 @@ VESPA_HOST = os.environ.get("VESPA_HOST") or "localhost"
 VESPA_CONFIG_SERVER_HOST = os.environ.get("VESPA_CONFIG_SERVER_HOST") or VESPA_HOST
 VESPA_PORT = os.environ.get("VESPA_PORT") or "8081"
 VESPA_TENANT_PORT = os.environ.get("VESPA_TENANT_PORT") or "19071"
+# the number of times to try and connect to vespa on startup before giving up
+VESPA_NUM_ATTEMPTS_ON_STARTUP = int(os.environ.get("NUM_RETRIES_ON_STARTUP") or 10)
 
 VESPA_CLOUD_URL = os.environ.get("VESPA_CLOUD_URL", "")
 
diff --git a/backend/danswer/setup.py b/backend/danswer/setup.py
index f86d0f3541..db9cdce85d 100644
--- a/backend/danswer/setup.py
+++ b/backend/danswer/setup.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from sqlalchemy.orm import Session
 
 from danswer.configs.app_configs import DISABLE_INDEX_UPDATE_ON_SWAP
 from danswer.configs.app_configs import MANAGED_VESPA
+from danswer.configs.app_configs import VESPA_NUM_ATTEMPTS_ON_STARTUP
 from danswer.configs.constants import KV_REINDEX_KEY
 from danswer.configs.constants import KV_SEARCH_SETTINGS
 from danswer.configs.model_configs import FAST_GEN_AI_MODEL_VERSION
@@ -221,13 +222,13 @@ def setup_vespa(
     document_index: DocumentIndex,
     index_setting: IndexingSetting,
     secondary_index_setting: IndexingSetting | None,
+    num_attempts: int = VESPA_NUM_ATTEMPTS_ON_STARTUP,
 ) -> bool:
     # Vespa startup is a bit slow, so give it a few seconds
     WAIT_SECONDS = 5
-    VESPA_ATTEMPTS = 5
-    for x in range(VESPA_ATTEMPTS):
+    for x in range(num_attempts):
         try:
-            logger.notice(f"Setting up Vespa (attempt {x+1}/{VESPA_ATTEMPTS})...")
+            logger.notice(f"Setting up Vespa (attempt {x+1}/{num_attempts})...")
             document_index.ensure_indices_exist(
                 index_embedding_dim=index_setting.model_dim,
                 secondary_index_embedding_dim=secondary_index_setting.model_dim
@@ -244,7 +245,7 @@ def setup_vespa(
             time.sleep(WAIT_SECONDS)
 
     logger.error(
-        f"Vespa setup did not succeed. Attempt limit reached. ({VESPA_ATTEMPTS})"
+        f"Vespa setup did not succeed. Attempt limit reached. ({num_attempts})"
     )
     return False