diff --git a/HealthchecksIO.py b/HealthchecksIO.py
index 599db3a..138931b 100644
--- a/HealthchecksIO.py
+++ b/HealthchecksIO.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-def healthcheck_ping(req_obj, url):
+def healthcheck_ping(req_obj, url, start=False):
+    if start == True:
+        url + '/start'
     try:
         req_obj.get(url, timeout=10)
     except req_obj.RequestException as e:
diff --git a/seafile-backup.py b/seafile-backup.py
index 0a5128e..3a04a1c 100644
--- a/seafile-backup.py
+++ b/seafile-backup.py
@@ -77,6 +77,10 @@ apprise_aurls = os.getenv("apprise_aurls")
 apprise_title = os.getenv("apprise_title")
 apprise_body = os.getenv("apprise_body")
 
+# healthcheck - Tell healthchecks.io we are starting the backup
+if healthcheck:
+    healthcheck_ping(r, healthcheck_url, start=True)
+
 # Stop seafile and seafile hub
 if docker_command:
     os.system(f'docker exec {container_name} /opt/seafile/seafile-serverlatest/seahub.sh stop')