diff --git a/playbooks/roles/zuul-merger/files/docker-compose.yaml b/playbooks/roles/zuul-merger/files/docker-compose.yaml
index db62d16c11..ee665e54ab 100644
--- a/playbooks/roles/zuul-merger/files/docker-compose.yaml
+++ b/playbooks/roles/zuul-merger/files/docker-compose.yaml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ version: '2'
 
 services:
   merger:
-    restart: always
+    restart: on-failure
     image: docker.io/zuul/zuul-merger:latest
     network_mode: host
     user: zuul