diff --git a/fleetshard/pkg/central/reconciler/reconciler.go b/fleetshard/pkg/central/reconciler/reconciler.go
index 083f982e7f..505009e20f 100644
--- a/fleetshard/pkg/central/reconciler/reconciler.go
+++ b/fleetshard/pkg/central/reconciler/reconciler.go
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ type CentralReconciler struct {
 	environment            string
 	auditLogging           config.AuditLogging
 	encryptionKeyGenerator cipher.KeyGenerator
+	uiReachabilityChecker  CentralUIReachabilityChecker
 
 	managedDbReconciler *managedDbReconciler
 	managedDBEnabled    bool
@@ -245,6 +246,20 @@ func (r *CentralReconciler) Reconcile(ctx context.Context, remoteCentral private
 		return installingStatus(), nil
 	}
 
+	if r.useRoutes && !isRemoteCentralReady(&remoteCentral) {
+		// Check whether central UI host is reachable over HTTP.
+		centralUIReachable, err := r.uiReachabilityChecker.IsCentralUIHostReachable(ctx, remoteCentral.Spec.UiHost)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		if !centralUIReachable {
+			if isRemoteCentralProvisioning(remoteCentral) && !needsReconcile { // no changes detected, wait until central UI becomes reachable
+				return nil, ErrCentralNotChanged
+			}
+			return installingStatus(), nil
+		}
+	}
+
 	status, err := r.collectReconciliationStatus(ctx, &remoteCentral)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -1064,6 +1079,7 @@ func NewCentralReconciler(k8sClient ctrlClient.Client, fleetmanagerClient *fleet
 		environment:            opts.Environment,
 		auditLogging:           opts.AuditLogging,
 		encryptionKeyGenerator: encryptionKeyGenerator,
+		uiReachabilityChecker:  NewHTTPCentralUIReachabilityChecker(),
 
 		managedDbReconciler: dbReconciler,
 		managedDBEnabled:    opts.ManagedDBEnabled,
diff --git a/fleetshard/pkg/central/reconciler/reconciler_test.go b/fleetshard/pkg/central/reconciler/reconciler_test.go
index 41fd330d8a..09b7ef0c8d 100644
--- a/fleetshard/pkg/central/reconciler/reconciler_test.go
+++ b/fleetshard/pkg/central/reconciler/reconciler_test.go
@@ -137,6 +137,8 @@ func getClientTrackerAndReconciler(
 		cipher.AES256KeyGenerator{},
 		reconcilerOptions,
 	)
+	// Override with mock for testing - always return reachable
+	reconciler.uiReachabilityChecker = NewMockCentralUIReachabilityChecker(true, nil)
 	return fakeClient, tracker, reconciler
 }
 
diff --git a/fleetshard/pkg/central/reconciler/ui_reachability_checker.go b/fleetshard/pkg/central/reconciler/ui_reachability_checker.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dc82187853
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fleetshard/pkg/central/reconciler/ui_reachability_checker.go
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+package reconciler
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/http"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/pkg/errors"
+)
+
+const (
+	httpCheckTimeout = 10 * time.Second
+)
+
+// CentralUIReachabilityChecker checks if a Central UI is reachable
+type CentralUIReachabilityChecker interface {
+	IsCentralUIHostReachable(ctx context.Context, uiHost string) (bool, error)
+}
+
+// HTTPCentralUIReachabilityChecker is the default implementation that performs actual HTTP checks
+type HTTPCentralUIReachabilityChecker struct {
+	httpClient *http.Client
+}
+
+// NewHTTPCentralUIReachabilityChecker creates a new HTTP-based reachability checker
+func NewHTTPCentralUIReachabilityChecker() *HTTPCentralUIReachabilityChecker {
+	return &HTTPCentralUIReachabilityChecker{
+		httpClient: &http.Client{
+			Timeout: httpCheckTimeout,
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+// IsCentralUIHostReachable performs an HTTP check to verify if the Central UI host is reachable
+func (c *HTTPCentralUIReachabilityChecker) IsCentralUIHostReachable(ctx context.Context, uiHost string) (bool, error) {
+	if uiHost == "" {
+		return false, errors.New("UI host is empty")
+	}
+
+	// Construct the URL with https scheme
+	url := fmt.Sprintf("https://%s", uiHost)
+
+	// Create request with context
+	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, "HEAD", url, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, errors.Wrapf(err, "creating HTTP request for %s", url)
+	}
+
+	// Perform the request
+	resp, err := c.httpClient.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, errors.Wrapf(err, "HTTP request failed for %s", url)
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		_ = resp.Body.Close()
+	}()
+
+	// Accept any response status code in the 2xx or 3xx range as reachable
+	// This allows for redirects and successful responses
+	return resp.StatusCode >= 200 && resp.StatusCode < 400, nil
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/fleetshard/pkg/central/reconciler/ui_reachability_checker_mock.go b/fleetshard/pkg/central/reconciler/ui_reachability_checker_mock.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..55853db529
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fleetshard/pkg/central/reconciler/ui_reachability_checker_mock.go
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+package reconciler
+
+import (
+	"context"
+)
+
+// MockCentralUIReachabilityChecker is a mock implementation for testing
+type MockCentralUIReachabilityChecker struct {
+	reachable bool
+	err       error
+}
+
+// NewMockCentralUIReachabilityChecker creates a new mock checker
+func NewMockCentralUIReachabilityChecker(reachable bool, err error) *MockCentralUIReachabilityChecker {
+	return &MockCentralUIReachabilityChecker{
+		reachable: reachable,
+		err:       err,
+	}
+}
+
+// IsCentralUIHostReachable returns the mocked reachability status
+func (m *MockCentralUIReachabilityChecker) IsCentralUIHostReachable(_ context.Context, _ string) (bool, error) {
+	return m.reachable, m.err
+}
+
+// SetReachable sets the reachability status for the mock
+func (m *MockCentralUIReachabilityChecker) SetReachable(reachable bool) {
+	m.reachable = reachable
+}
+
+// SetError sets the error for the mock
+func (m *MockCentralUIReachabilityChecker) SetError(err error) {
+	m.err = err
+}
\ No newline at end of file