diff --git a/backend/utils/sequelize.js b/backend/utils/sequelize.js
index 0b36dae..b28a061 100644
--- a/backend/utils/sequelize.js
+++ b/backend/utils/sequelize.js
@@ -38,6 +38,12 @@ if (!dbName || !dbUser || !dbHost) {
     throw new Error('Missing required database environment variables: DB_NAME, DB_USER, or DB_HOST');
 }
 
+const poolMax = Number.parseInt(process.env.DB_POOL_MAX || '5', 10);
+const poolMin = Number.parseInt(process.env.DB_POOL_MIN || '1', 10);
+const poolAcquire = Number.parseInt(process.env.DB_POOL_ACQUIRE || '30000', 10);
+const poolIdle = Number.parseInt(process.env.DB_POOL_IDLE || '10000', 10);
+const poolEvict = Number.parseInt(process.env.DB_POOL_EVICT || '1000', 10);
+
 const sequelize = new Sequelize(dbName, dbUser, dbPass, {
     host: dbHost,
     dialect: 'postgres',
@@ -48,11 +54,11 @@ const sequelize = new Sequelize(dbName, dbUser, dbPass, {
     benchmark: SQL_BENCHMARK,
     logging: sqlLogger,
     pool: {
-        max: 5,                // Maximale Anzahl von Verbindungen im Pool (reduziert, um Connection Limit zu vermeiden)
-        min: 1,                // Minimale Anzahl von Verbindungen im Pool
-        acquire: 30000,        // Maximale Zeit (ms) zum Erwerb einer Verbindung (30 Sekunden)
-        idle: 10000,           // Maximale Zeit (ms), die eine Verbindung idle sein kann, bevor sie entfernt wird
-        evict: 1000,           // Intervall (ms) zum Prüfen auf idle Verbindungen
+        max: poolMax,          // Maximale Anzahl von Verbindungen im Pool
+        min: poolMin,          // Minimale Anzahl von Verbindungen im Pool
+        acquire: poolAcquire,  // Maximale Zeit (ms) zum Erwerb einer Verbindung
+        idle: poolIdle,        // Maximale Zeit (ms), die eine Verbindung idle sein kann, bevor sie entfernt wird
+        evict: poolEvict,      // Intervall (ms) zum Prüfen auf idle Verbindungen
         handleDisconnects: true // Automatisches Reconnect bei Verbindungsverlust
     },
     dialectOptions: {
diff --git a/backend/utils/syncDatabase.js b/backend/utils/syncDatabase.js
index 7968f22..8e369d9 100644
--- a/backend/utils/syncDatabase.js
+++ b/backend/utils/syncDatabase.js
@@ -23,6 +23,27 @@ const queryWithTimeout = async (query, timeoutMs = 30000, description = 'Query')
     }
 };
 
+// Helper: Retry wrapper for transient pool/connection issues
+const runWithRetry = async (fn, { retries = 3, delayMs = 2000, description = 'operation' } = {}) => {
+    let lastError;
+    for (let attempt = 1; attempt <= retries; attempt++) {
+        try {
+            return await fn();
+        } catch (error) {
+            lastError = error;
+            const isAcquireTimeout = error?.name === 'SequelizeConnectionAcquireTimeoutError'
+                || error?.message?.includes('ConnectionAcquireTimeoutError')
+                || error?.message?.includes('Operation timeout');
+            if (!isAcquireTimeout || attempt === retries) {
+                throw error;
+            }
+            console.warn(`⚠️  ${description} fehlgeschlagen (AcquireTimeout). Retry ${attempt}/${retries} in ${delayMs}ms...`);
+            await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, delayMs));
+        }
+    }
+    throw lastError;
+};
+
 // Helper: Prüft ob Tabelle existiert
 const tableExists = async (schema, tableName) => {
     try {
@@ -592,7 +613,10 @@ const syncDatabase = async () => {
         await syncModelsWithUpdates(models);
 
         console.log("Initializing settings...");
-        await initializeSettings();
+        await runWithRetry(
+            () => initializeSettings(),
+            { retries: 3, delayMs: 2000, description: 'initializeSettings' }
+        );
 
         console.log("Initializing types...");
         await initializeTypes();