diff --git a/docker/Dockerfile.database b/docker/Dockerfile.database
index bee36348143..32abd7ae63c 100644
--- a/docker/Dockerfile.database
+++ b/docker/Dockerfile.database
@@ -15,16 +15,20 @@ USER root
 COPY --from=uvbin /uv /usr/local/bin/uv
 COPY --from=uvbin /uvx /usr/local/bin/uvx
 
-RUN apk add --no-cache \
-    bash \
-    gcc \
-    python3 \
-    python3-dev \
-    openssl \
-    openssl-dev \
-    nodejs \
-    npm \
-    libsndfile
+RUN for i in 1 2 3; do \
+      apk add --no-cache \
+        bash \
+        gcc \
+        python3 \
+        python3-dev \
+        openssl \
+        openssl-dev \
+        nodejs \
+        npm \
+        libsndfile && break; \
+      [ $i = 3 ] && { echo "apk add failed after 3 retries" >&2; exit 1; }; \
+      sleep 5; \
+    done
 
 ENV UV_PROJECT_ENVIRONMENT=/app/.venv \
     UV_LINK_MODE=copy \
@@ -66,7 +70,11 @@ FROM $LITELLM_RUNTIME_IMAGE AS runtime
 
 USER root
 
-RUN apk add --no-cache bash openssl tzdata nodejs npm python3 libsndfile && \
+RUN for i in 1 2 3; do \
+      apk add --no-cache bash openssl tzdata nodejs npm python3 libsndfile && break; \
+      [ $i = 3 ] && { echo "apk add failed after 3 retries" >&2; exit 1; }; \
+      sleep 5; \
+    done && \
     npm install -g npm@11.12.1 tar@7.5.11 glob@11.1.0 @isaacs/brace-expansion@5.0.1 minimatch@10.2.4 diff@8.0.3 && \
     GLOBAL="$(npm root -g)" && \
     find "$GLOBAL/npm" -type d -name "tar" -path "*/node_modules/tar" | while read d; do \