diff --git a/lite_bootstrap/instruments/healthchecks_instrument.py b/lite_bootstrap/instruments/healthchecks_instrument.py
index b8837ac..fd6c178 100644
--- a/lite_bootstrap/instruments/healthchecks_instrument.py
+++ b/lite_bootstrap/instruments/healthchecks_instrument.py
@@ -53,9 +53,12 @@ def render_health_check_data(self, *, health_status: bool = True) -> HealthCheck
         return health_check_data
 
     async def define_health_status(self) -> bool:
+        probes = self.bootstrap_config.health_checks_probes
+        if not probes:
+            return await self._define_framework_health_status()
         results = await asyncio.gather(
             self._define_framework_health_status(),
-            *(self._run_probe(name, probe) for name, probe in self.bootstrap_config.health_checks_probes.items()),
+            *(self._run_probe(name, probe) for name, probe in probes.items()),
         )
         return all(results)
 
diff --git a/tests/instruments/test_healthchecks_instrument.py b/tests/instruments/test_healthchecks_instrument.py
index 178834b..b1a29ec 100644
--- a/tests/instruments/test_healthchecks_instrument.py
+++ b/tests/instruments/test_healthchecks_instrument.py
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 import asyncio
 import time
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
 
+import pytest
+
+from lite_bootstrap.instruments import healthchecks_instrument
 from lite_bootstrap.instruments.healthchecks_instrument import HealthChecksConfig, HealthChecksInstrument
 
 
@@ -72,3 +76,11 @@ async def test_healthchecks_status_is_healthy_without_probes() -> None:
 def test_healthchecks_render_data_unhealthy() -> None:
     instrument = HealthChecksInstrument(bootstrap_config=HealthChecksConfig())
     assert instrument.render_health_check_data(health_status=False)["health_status"] is False
+
+
+async def test_healthchecks_status_without_probes_skips_gather(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+    gather = MagicMock(side_effect=asyncio.gather)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(healthchecks_instrument.asyncio, "gather", gather)
+    instrument = HealthChecksInstrument(bootstrap_config=HealthChecksConfig())
+    assert await instrument.define_health_status()
+    gather.assert_not_called()