diff --git a/src/nginxconfig.ejs b/src/nginxconfig.ejs
index 23640285f..f0a2a733b 100644
--- a/src/nginxconfig.ejs
+++ b/src/nginxconfig.ejs
@@ -176,7 +176,11 @@ server {
 <% } else if ( endpoint === 'app' ) { %>
         proxy_pass http://<%= ip %>:<%= port %>;
 <% } else if ( endpoint === 'external' ) { %>
-        proxy_pass <%= upstreamUri %>;
+        # without a variable, nginx will not start if upstream is down or
+        resolver 127.0.0.1 valid=30s;
+        set $upstream <%= upstreamUri %>;
+        proxy_ssl_verify off;
+        proxy_pass $upstream;
 <% } else if ( endpoint === 'redirect' ) { %>
         return 302 https://<%= redirectTo %>$request_uri;
 <% } %>
@@ -330,7 +334,11 @@ server {
     }
 <% } else if ( endpoint === 'external' ) { %>
     location / {
-        proxy_pass <%= upstreamUri %>;
+        # without a variable, nginx will not start if upstream is down or unavailable
+        resolver 127.0.0.1 valid=30s;
+        set $upstream <%= upstreamUri %>;
+        proxy_ssl_verify off;
+        proxy_pass $upstream;
     }
 <% } else if ( endpoint === 'ip' ) { %>
     location /notfound.html {