diff --git a/node/node.go b/node/node.go
index ec7382e725..9f8778f62e 100644
--- a/node/node.go
+++ b/node/node.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import (
 	"slices"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/accounts"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
@@ -519,6 +520,7 @@ func (n *Node) stopRPC() {
 	n.ws.stop()
 	n.httpAuth.stop()
 	n.wsAuth.stop()
+	time.Sleep(rpc.StopPendingRequestTimeout)
 	n.ipc.stop()
 	n.stopInProc()
 }
diff --git a/rpc/http.go b/rpc/http.go
index f4b99429ef..91cd9deead 100644
--- a/rpc/http.go
+++ b/rpc/http.go
@@ -309,7 +309,11 @@ func (t *httpServerConn) SetWriteDeadline(time.Time) error { return nil }
 func (s *Server) ServeHTTP(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	// Permit dumb empty requests for remote health-checks (AWS)
 	if r.Method == http.MethodGet && r.ContentLength == 0 && r.URL.RawQuery == "" {
-		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+		if s.ready {
+			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusOK)
+		} else {
+			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusServiceUnavailable)
+		}
 		return
 	}
 	if code, err := s.validateRequest(r); err != nil {
diff --git a/rpc/server.go b/rpc/server.go
index 42b59f8f6f..2be3f54ee4 100644
--- a/rpc/server.go
+++ b/rpc/server.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"net"
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 )
@@ -36,6 +37,10 @@ const EngineApi = "engine"
 type CodecOption int
 
 const (
+	// give pending requests StopPendingRequestTimeout the time to finish when the server is stopped
+	// if readiness probe period is 5 seconds, this is enough time for health check to be triggered
+	StopPendingRequestTimeout = 6 * time.Second
+
 	// OptionMethodInvocation is an indication that the codec supports RPC method calls
 	OptionMethodInvocation CodecOption = 1 << iota
 
@@ -51,6 +56,7 @@ type Server struct {
 	mutex              sync.Mutex
 	codecs             map[ServerCodec]struct{}
 	run                atomic.Bool
+	ready              bool
 	batchItemLimit     int
 	batchResponseLimit int
 	httpBodyLimit      int
@@ -68,6 +74,7 @@ func NewServer() *Server {
 	// as the services and methods it offers.
 	rpcService := &RPCService{server}
 	server.RegisterName(MetadataApi, rpcService)
+	server.ready = true
 	return server
 }
 
@@ -184,15 +191,19 @@ func messageForReadError(err error) string {
 // requests to finish, then closes all codecs which will cancel pending requests and
 // subscriptions.
 func (s *Server) Stop() {
-	s.mutex.Lock()
-	defer s.mutex.Unlock()
+	log.Debug("RPC server draining pending requests")
+	s.ready = false
+	time.AfterFunc(StopPendingRequestTimeout, func() {
+		s.mutex.Lock()
+		defer s.mutex.Unlock()
 
-	if s.run.CompareAndSwap(true, false) {
-		log.Debug("RPC server shutting down")
-		for codec := range s.codecs {
-			codec.close()
+		if s.run.CompareAndSwap(true, false) {
+			log.Debug("RPC server shutting down")
+			for codec := range s.codecs {
+				codec.close()
+			}
 		}
-	}
+	})
 }
 
 // RPCService gives meta information about the server.