diff --git a/src/freedombone-app-matrix b/src/freedombone-app-matrix
index 550a80199c134cbc5c88c39fb992102182d78317..340aadf98fc4845bb5a6c8bb84eab0c8c6419215 100755
--- a/src/freedombone-app-matrix
+++ b/src/freedombone-app-matrix
@@ -174,6 +174,9 @@ function matrix_nginx {
     systemctl restart turn
     systemctl restart matrix
     systemctl restart sydent
+
+    # wait for nginx to start otherwise user add fails later
+    sleep 5
 }
 
 function matrix_generate_homeserver_file {