diff --git a/reginald/models/app.py b/reginald/models/app.py
index 9701938e..b64b90c0 100644
--- a/reginald/models/app.py
+++ b/reginald/models/app.py
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ def main():
 
     # set up basic root endpoint
     @app.get("/")
-    async def root():
-        return "Hello World!"
+    async def ping():
+        return "pong"
 
     # set up direct_message endpoint
     @app.get("/direct_message")
diff --git a/reginald/slack_bot/bot.py b/reginald/slack_bot/bot.py
index 7594cb8a..978c080a 100644
--- a/reginald/slack_bot/bot.py
+++ b/reginald/slack_bot/bot.py
@@ -394,6 +394,8 @@ async def _process_request(
             # if this is a direct message to Reginald...
             if event_type == "message" and event_subtype is None:
                 await self.react(client, event["channel"], event["ts"])
+                # check VM is reachable
+                await self.ping()
                 model_response = await asyncio.get_running_loop().run_in_executor(
                     None,
                     lambda: requests.get(
@@ -405,6 +407,8 @@ async def _process_request(
             # if @Reginald is mentioned in a channel
             elif event_type == "app_mention":
                 await self.react(client, event["channel"], event["ts"])
+                # check VM is reachable
+                await self.ping()
                 model_response = await asyncio.get_running_loop().run_in_executor(
                     None,
                     lambda: requests.get(
@@ -473,6 +477,16 @@ async def _process_request(
         else:
             logging.info("No reply was generated.")
 
+    async def ping(self):
+        pong = await asyncio.get_running_loop().run_in_executor(
+            None,
+            lambda: requests.get(
+                f"{self.api_url}/",
+                timeout=5,
+            ),
+        )
+        pong.raise_for_status()
+
     async def react(
         self, client: SocketModeClient, channel: str, timestamp: str
     ) -> None: