ERROR

How to Fix GCP Container Startup Timeout

Quick Fix Summary

TL;DR

Increase the startup timeout value in your Cloud Run service configuration.

The container failed to start and become ready within the configured time limit. This prevents traffic from being routed to the instance, causing service disruption.

Diagnosis & Causes

Slow application initialization or dependency loading.

Insufficient CPU or memory allocated to the container.

Cold start latency pulling large container images.

Application waiting for external dependencies (e.g., database).

Misconfigured startup probe or health check endpoint.

Recovery Steps

Step 1: Increase the Startup Timeout Limit

Immediately extend the time Cloud Run waits for your container to start. This is the fastest way to restore service while you investigate root causes.

bash

gcloud run services update YOUR_SERVICE_NAME \
--region=YOUR_REGION \
--startup-timeout=300s

Step 2: Optimize Container Startup Performance

Reduce your container's initialization time by optimizing the image and application boot process.

dockerfile

# Use a multi-stage Dockerfile to create a smaller final image.
FROM base AS builder
RUN make build
FROM gcr.io/distroless/base-debian11
COPY --from=builder /app/bin /app
CMD ["/app"]
# Ensure your app listens on $PORT immediately on launch.
ENV PORT=8080
CMD ["java", "-jar", "app.jar", "--server.port=${PORT}"]

Step 3: Implement a Proper Startup Probe

Configure a lightweight HTTP endpoint that signals when your app's core dependencies are ready, not when it's fully initialized.

javascript

// Example (Node.js/Express): A simple /health/startup endpoint.
app.get('/health/startup', (req, res) => {
  // Check ONLY critical, internal dependencies.
  // e.g., in-memory cache, essential config loaded.
  if (app.locals.isCoreReady) {
    return res.status(200).send('OK');
  }
  res.status(503).send('Starting');
});
// In Cloud Run deployment command:
gcloud run deploy ... --set-env-vars="STARTUP_PROBE_PATH=/health/startup"

Step 4: Analyze Startup Logs for Bottlenecks

Use Cloud Logging to identify what's happening during the timeout period. Filter for logs from the startup phase.

bash

gcloud logging read \
"resource.type=\"cloud_run_revision\" resource.labels.service_name=\"YOUR_SERVICE_NAME\"" \
--limit=50 --order=desc \
--format="table(timestamp, severity, textPayload)"

Architect's Pro Tip

"For Java/Spring Boot apps, use 'spring.main.lazy-initialization=true' and avoid @PostConstruct for heavy operations. Initialize non-critical beans on first request instead of at startup."

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum startup timeout I can set in Cloud Run?

The maximum startup timeout is 3600 seconds (1 hour) for Cloud Run (fully managed). However, exceeding 5 minutes often indicates a fundamental application issue that should be optimized.

Will increasing the timeout affect my billing?

Yes. Cloud Run bills for the total time an instance is running, including the startup period. A longer timeout increases the cost of cold starts.

My container starts locally in seconds but times out on Cloud Run. Why?

This typically points to environment differences: slower CPU during startup, network latency pulling dependencies (other containers, secrets from Secret Manager), or missing local configuration/caches.

Related GCP Guides

Cloud-Run-429