diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index 8f65f613d..b0c2a4d35 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -1062,8 +1062,10 @@ func runSignalWrapper(cmd *Command) (err error) {
 	var (
 		needsHTTPServer bool
 		mux             = http.NewServeMux()
-		notify          = func() {}
+		notifyStarted   = func() {}
+		notifyStopped   = func() {}
 	)
+
 	if cmd.conf.Prometheus {
 		needsHTTPServer = true
 		e, err := prometheus.NewExporter(prometheus.Options{
@@ -1083,8 +1085,10 @@ func runSignalWrapper(cmd *Command) (err error) {
 		mux.HandleFunc("/startup", hc.HandleStartup)
 		mux.HandleFunc("/readiness", hc.HandleReadiness)
 		mux.HandleFunc("/liveness", hc.HandleLiveness)
-		notify = hc.NotifyStarted
+		notifyStarted = hc.NotifyStarted
+		notifyStopped = hc.NotifyStopped
 	}
+	defer notifyStopped()
 	// Start the HTTP server if anything requiring HTTP is specified.
 	if needsHTTPServer {
 		go startHTTPServer(
@@ -1127,7 +1131,7 @@ func runSignalWrapper(cmd *Command) (err error) {
 		)
 	}
 
-	go func() { shutdownCh <- p.Serve(ctx, notify) }()
+	go func() { shutdownCh <- p.Serve(ctx, notifyStarted) }()
 
 	err = <-shutdownCh
 	switch {
diff --git a/internal/healthcheck/healthcheck.go b/internal/healthcheck/healthcheck.go
index 9192970b2..f0dedd6d7 100644
--- a/internal/healthcheck/healthcheck.go
+++ b/internal/healthcheck/healthcheck.go
@@ -16,11 +16,9 @@
 package healthcheck
 
 import (
-	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
-	"strconv"
 	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/GoogleCloudPlatform/cloud-sql-proxy/v2/cloudsql"
@@ -30,25 +28,34 @@ import (
 // Check provides HTTP handlers for use as healthchecks typically in a
 // Kubernetes context.
 type Check struct {
-	once    *sync.Once
-	started chan struct{}
-	proxy   *proxy.Client
-	logger  cloudsql.Logger
+	startedOnce *sync.Once
+	started     chan struct{}
+	stoppedOnce *sync.Once
+	stopped     chan struct{}
+	proxy       *proxy.Client
+	logger      cloudsql.Logger
 }
 
 // NewCheck is the initializer for Check.
 func NewCheck(p *proxy.Client, l cloudsql.Logger) *Check {
 	return &Check{
-		once:    &sync.Once{},
-		started: make(chan struct{}),
-		proxy:   p,
-		logger:  l,
+		startedOnce: &sync.Once{},
+		started:     make(chan struct{}),
+		stoppedOnce: &sync.Once{},
+		stopped:     make(chan struct{}),
+		proxy:       p,
+		logger:      l,
 	}
 }
 
 // NotifyStarted notifies the check that the proxy has started up successfully.
 func (c *Check) NotifyStarted() {
-	c.once.Do(func() { close(c.started) })
+	c.startedOnce.Do(func() { close(c.started) })
+}
+
+// NotifyStopped notifies the check that the proxy has started up successfully.
+func (c *Check) NotifyStopped() {
+	c.stoppedOnce.Do(func() { close(c.stopped) })
 }
 
 // HandleStartup reports whether the Check has been notified of startup.
@@ -63,15 +70,15 @@ func (c *Check) HandleStartup(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
 	}
 }
 
-var errNotStarted = errors.New("proxy is not started")
+var (
+	errNotStarted = errors.New("proxy is not started")
+	errStopped    = errors.New("proxy has stopped")
+)
 
 // HandleReadiness ensures the Check has been notified of successful startup,
-// that the proxy has not reached maximum connections, and that all connections
-// are healthy.
-func (c *Check) HandleReadiness(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(req.Context())
-	defer cancel()
-
+// that the proxy has not reached maximum connections, and that the Proxy has
+// not started shutting down.
+func (c *Check) HandleReadiness(w http.ResponseWriter, _ *http.Request) {
 	select {
 	case <-c.started:
 	default:
@@ -81,68 +88,17 @@ func (c *Check) HandleReadiness(w http.ResponseWriter, req *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if open, max := c.proxy.ConnCount(); max > 0 && open == max {
-		err := fmt.Errorf("max connections reached (open = %v, max = %v)", open, max)
-		c.logger.Errorf("[Health Check] Readiness failed: %v", err)
+	select {
+	case <-c.stopped:
+		c.logger.Errorf("[Health Check] Readiness failed: %v", errStopped)
 		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusServiceUnavailable)
-		w.Write([]byte(err.Error()))
+		w.Write([]byte(errStopped.Error()))
 		return
+	default:
 	}
 
-	var minReady *int
-	q := req.URL.Query()
-	if v := q.Get("min-ready"); v != "" {
-		n, err := strconv.Atoi(v)
-		if err != nil {
-			c.logger.Errorf("[Health Check] min-ready must be a valid integer, got = %q", v)
-			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusBadRequest)
-			fmt.Fprintf(w, "min-query must be a valid integer, got = %q", v)
-			return
-		}
-		if n <= 0 {
-			c.logger.Errorf("[Health Check] min-ready %q must be greater than zero", v)
-			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusBadRequest)
-			fmt.Fprint(w, "min-query must be greater than zero", v)
-			return
-		}
-		minReady = &n
-	}
-
-	total, err := c.proxy.CheckConnections(ctx)
-
-	switch {
-	case minReady != nil && *minReady > total:
-		// When min ready is set and exceeds total instances, 400 status.
-		mErr := fmt.Errorf(
-			"min-ready (%v) must be less than or equal to the number of registered instances (%v)",
-			*minReady, total,
-		)
-		c.logger.Errorf("[Health Check] Readiness failed: %v", mErr)
-
-		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusBadRequest)
-		w.Write([]byte(mErr.Error()))
-		return
-	case err != nil && minReady != nil:
-		// When there's an error and min ready is set, AND min ready instances
-		// are not ready, 503 status.
-		c.logger.Errorf("[Health Check] Readiness failed: %v", err)
-
-		mErr, ok := err.(proxy.MultiErr)
-		if !ok {
-			// If the err is not a MultiErr, just return it as is.
-			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusServiceUnavailable)
-			w.Write([]byte(err.Error()))
-			return
-		}
-
-		areReady := total - len(mErr)
-		if areReady < *minReady {
-			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusServiceUnavailable)
-			w.Write([]byte(err.Error()))
-			return
-		}
-	case err != nil:
-		// When there's just an error without min-ready: 503 status.
+	if open, max := c.proxy.ConnCount(); max > 0 && open == max {
+		err := fmt.Errorf("max connections reached (open = %v, max = %v)", open, max)
 		c.logger.Errorf("[Health Check] Readiness failed: %v", err)
 		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusServiceUnavailable)
 		w.Write([]byte(err.Error()))
diff --git a/internal/healthcheck/healthcheck_test.go b/internal/healthcheck/healthcheck_test.go
index e0ebdd50e..b4729bb3f 100644
--- a/internal/healthcheck/healthcheck_test.go
+++ b/internal/healthcheck/healthcheck_test.go
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ package healthcheck_test
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net"
@@ -25,7 +24,6 @@ import (
 	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
-	"sync/atomic"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -73,29 +71,6 @@ func (*fakeDialer) Close() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-type flakeyDialer struct {
-	dialCount uint64
-	fakeDialer
-}
-
-// Dial fails on odd calls and succeeds on even calls.
-func (f *flakeyDialer) Dial(_ context.Context, _ string, _ ...cloudsqlconn.DialOption) (net.Conn, error) {
-	c := atomic.AddUint64(&f.dialCount, 1)
-	if c%2 == 0 {
-		conn, _ := net.Pipe()
-		return conn, nil
-	}
-	return nil, errors.New("flakey dialer fails on odd calls")
-}
-
-type errorDialer struct {
-	fakeDialer
-}
-
-func (*errorDialer) Dial(_ context.Context, _ string, _ ...cloudsqlconn.DialOption) (net.Conn, error) {
-	return nil, errors.New("errorDialer always errors")
-}
-
 func newProxyWithParams(t *testing.T, maxConns uint64, dialer cloudsql.Dialer, instances []proxy.InstanceConnConfig) *proxy.Client {
 	c := &proxy.Config{
 		Addr:           proxyHost,
@@ -116,10 +91,6 @@ func newTestProxyWithMaxConns(t *testing.T, maxConns uint64) *proxy.Client {
 	})
 }
 
-func newTestProxyWithDialer(t *testing.T, d cloudsql.Dialer) *proxy.Client {
-	return newProxyWithParams(t, 0, d, []proxy.InstanceConnConfig{{Name: "proj:region:pg"}})
-}
-
 func newTestProxy(t *testing.T) *proxy.Client {
 	return newProxyWithParams(t, 0, &fakeDialer{}, []proxy.InstanceConnConfig{{Name: "proj:region:pg"}})
 }
@@ -182,6 +153,27 @@ func TestHandleReadinessWhenNotNotified(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestHandleReadinessWhenStopped(t *testing.T) {
+	p := newTestProxy(t)
+	defer func() {
+		if err := p.Close(); err != nil {
+			t.Logf("failed to close proxy client: %v", err)
+		}
+	}()
+	check := healthcheck.NewCheck(p, logger)
+
+	check.NotifyStarted() // The Proxy has started.
+	check.NotifyStopped() // And now the Proxy is shutting down.
+
+	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
+	check.HandleReadiness(rec, &http.Request{URL: &url.URL{}})
+
+	resp := rec.Result()
+	if got, want := resp.StatusCode, http.StatusServiceUnavailable; got != want {
+		t.Fatalf("want = %v, got = %v", want, got)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestHandleReadinessForMaxConns(t *testing.T) {
 	p := newTestProxyWithMaxConns(t, 1)
 	defer func() {
@@ -230,112 +222,3 @@ func TestHandleReadinessForMaxConns(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("want max connections error, got = %v", string(body))
 	}
 }
-
-func TestHandleReadinessWithConnectionProblems(t *testing.T) {
-	p := newTestProxyWithDialer(t, &errorDialer{}) // error dialer will error on dial
-	defer func() {
-		if err := p.Close(); err != nil {
-			t.Logf("failed to close proxy client: %v", err)
-		}
-	}()
-	check := healthcheck.NewCheck(p, logger)
-	check.NotifyStarted()
-
-	rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
-	check.HandleReadiness(rec, &http.Request{URL: &url.URL{}})
-
-	resp := rec.Result()
-	if got, want := resp.StatusCode, http.StatusServiceUnavailable; got != want {
-		t.Fatalf("want = %v, got = %v", want, got)
-	}
-
-	body, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("failed to read response body: %v", err)
-	}
-	if want := "errorDialer"; !strings.Contains(string(body), want) {
-		t.Fatalf("want substring with = %q, got = %v", want, string(body))
-	}
-}
-
-func TestReadinessWithMinReady(t *testing.T) {
-	tcs := []struct {
-		desc       string
-		minReady   string
-		wantStatus int
-		dialer     cloudsql.Dialer
-	}{
-		{
-			desc:       "when min ready is zero",
-			minReady:   "0",
-			wantStatus: http.StatusBadRequest,
-			dialer:     &fakeDialer{},
-		},
-		{
-			desc:       "when min ready is less than zero",
-			minReady:   "-1",
-			wantStatus: http.StatusBadRequest,
-			dialer:     &fakeDialer{},
-		},
-		{
-			desc:       "when only one instance must be ready",
-			minReady:   "1",
-			wantStatus: http.StatusOK,
-			dialer:     &flakeyDialer{}, // fails on first call, succeeds on second
-		},
-		{
-			desc:       "when all instances must be ready",
-			minReady:   "2",
-			wantStatus: http.StatusServiceUnavailable,
-			dialer:     &errorDialer{},
-		},
-		{
-			desc:       "when min ready is greater than the number of instances",
-			minReady:   "3",
-			wantStatus: http.StatusBadRequest,
-			dialer:     &fakeDialer{},
-		},
-		{
-			desc:       "when min ready is bogus",
-			minReady:   "bogus",
-			wantStatus: http.StatusBadRequest,
-			dialer:     &fakeDialer{},
-		},
-		{
-			desc:       "when min ready is not set",
-			minReady:   "",
-			wantStatus: http.StatusOK,
-			dialer:     &fakeDialer{},
-		},
-	}
-	for _, tc := range tcs {
-		t.Run(tc.desc, func(t *testing.T) {
-			p := newProxyWithParams(t, 0,
-				tc.dialer,
-				[]proxy.InstanceConnConfig{
-					{Name: "p:r:instance-1"},
-					{Name: "p:r:instance-2"},
-				},
-			)
-			defer func() {
-				if err := p.Close(); err != nil {
-					t.Logf("failed to close proxy client: %v", err)
-				}
-			}()
-
-			check := healthcheck.NewCheck(p, logger)
-			check.NotifyStarted()
-			u, err := url.Parse(fmt.Sprintf("/readiness?min-ready=%s", tc.minReady))
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-			rec := httptest.NewRecorder()
-			check.HandleReadiness(rec, &http.Request{URL: u})
-
-			resp := rec.Result()
-			if got, want := resp.StatusCode, tc.wantStatus; got != want {
-				t.Fatalf("want = %v, got = %v", want, got)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}