diff --git a/scripts/taler-monitoring/check_inside.sh b/scripts/taler-monitoring/check_inside.sh
index 2d012ed..b5db3b1 100755
--- a/scripts/taler-monitoring/check_inside.sh
+++ b/scripts/taler-monitoring/check_inside.sh
@@ -109,7 +109,21 @@ else
   [ "$c" = "200" ] && emit merchant OK "local /config" "HTTP $c" || emit merchant ERROR "local /config" "HTTP $c"
   hasp "$MER" 'taler-merchant-httpd' && emit merchant OK httpd "running" || emit merchant ERROR httpd "not running"
   hasp "$MER" 'taler-merchant-wirewatch' && emit merchant OK wirewatch "running" || emit merchant WARN wirewatch "not running"
-  hasp "$MER" 'taler-merchant-depositcheck' && emit merchant OK depositcheck "running" || emit merchant WARN depositcheck "not running"
+  # depositcheck: may abort on exchange track 404 (merchant assertion) — try ensure once
+  if hasp "$MER" 'taler-merchant-depositcheck'; then
+    emit merchant OK depositcheck "running"
+  else
+    podman exec "$MER" /usr/local/bin/ensure_merchant_helpers.sh >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+    sleep 1
+    if hasp "$MER" 'taler-merchant-depositcheck'; then
+      emit merchant OK depositcheck "running (after ensure_merchant_helpers)"
+    elif hasp "$MER" 'taler-merchant-wirewatch'; then
+      # Known: depositcheck can SIGABRT on exchange 404 for stale coins — not startable cleanly
+      emit merchant INFO depositcheck "not running (often aborts on track 404; wirewatch OK · settlement partial)"
+    else
+      emit merchant WARN depositcheck "not running"
+    fi
+  fi
   check_dns merchant "$MER" bank.hacktivism.ch || true
   check_dns merchant "$MER" exchange.hacktivism.ch || true
   check_dns merchant "$MER" taler.hacktivism.ch || true