diff --git a/jupyterhub/objects.py b/jupyterhub/objects.py
index 4fd215e8..f497e904 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/objects.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/objects.py
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ class Server(HasTraits):
             name=self.__class__.__name__, url=self.url, bind=self.bind_url
         )
 
-    def wait_up(self, timeout=10, http=False, ssl_context=None):
+    def wait_up(self, timeout=10, http=False, ssl_context=None, extra_path=""):
         """Wait for this server to come up"""
         if http:
             ssl_context = ssl_context or make_ssl_context(
@@ -174,7 +174,9 @@ class Server(HasTraits):
             )
 
             return wait_for_http_server(
-                self.url, timeout=timeout, ssl_context=ssl_context
+                url_path_join(self.url, extra_path),
+                timeout=timeout,
+                ssl_context=ssl_context,
             )
         else:
             return wait_for_server(
diff --git a/jupyterhub/user.py b/jupyterhub/user.py
index fe10b7bc..e4a38f01 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/user.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/user.py
@@ -901,7 +901,10 @@ class User:
         ssl_context = make_ssl_context(key, cert, cafile=ca)
         try:
             resp = await server.wait_up(
-                http=True, timeout=spawner.http_timeout, ssl_context=ssl_context
+                http=True,
+                timeout=spawner.http_timeout,
+                ssl_context=ssl_context,
+                extra_path="api",
             )
         except Exception as e:
             if isinstance(e, AnyTimeoutError):