diff --git a/nominatim-3.1/start.sh b/nominatim-3.1/start.sh
index 171d6f2f9510b16e5aaa7847f37d95505445d8bd..76983177b30a69a5abbb0614b301b6e35136b2a1 100755
--- a/nominatim-3.1/start.sh
+++ b/nominatim-3.1/start.sh
@@ -4,29 +4,38 @@ service postgresql start
 
 ## Set up nominatim updates ###
 
-#sudo -u nominatim ./src/build/utils/update.php --init-updates
-#sudo -u nominatim ./src/build/utils/update.php --import-osmosis-all &
-
 while true; do
-	starttime=$(date +%s)
 
+	result=`sudo -u nominatim ./src/build/utils/update.php --check-for-updates`
+
+	if [ "$result" = "Database up to date." ]; then
+		sleepy=300 
+		echo "The Nominatim database in already up to date. Sleeping for ${sleepy}s..."
+                sleep $sleepy
+	else
 
-	sudo -u nominatim ./src/build/utils/update.php --init-updates
-	#sudo -u nominatim ./src/build/utils/update.php --check-for-updates
-	sudo -u nominatim ./src/build/utils/update.php --import-osmosis --no-index
+		curl http://photon:2322/api
+		isPhotonAlive=$?
 
-	curl http://photon:2322/nominatim-update
+		if [ $isPhotonAlive -ne 0 ]; then
+			sleepy=300
+			echo "Photon is not available. Sleeping for ${sleepy}s, in order to let Photon wake up..."
+			sleep $sleepy
+			continue
+		fi
 
-	#sudo -u nominatim ./src/build/utils/update.php --index
+		sudo -u nominatim ./src/build/utils/update.php --init-updates
+		sudo -u nominatim ./src/build/utils/update.php --import-osmosis --no-index
+		curl -v http://photon:2322/nominatim-update # this line triggers the Photon update following the Nominatim update
 
-	# sleep a bit if updates take less than 5 minutes
-	endtime=$(date +%s)
-	elapsed=$((endtime - starttime))
-	if [[ $elapsed -lt 300 ]]; then
-		sleepy=$((300 - $elapsed))
-		echo "Sleeping for ${sleepy}s..."
+		sleepy=1800
+		echo "Sleeping for ${sleepy}s, in order to let Photon update..."
 		sleep $sleepy
+
+		sudo -u nominatim ./src/build/utils/update.php --index
+
 	fi
+
 done