diff --git a/backend/build.gradle b/backend/build.gradle
index f760e75..fbd2801 100644
--- a/backend/build.gradle
+++ b/backend/build.gradle
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ repositories {
 }
 
 dependencies {
-	implementation 'org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-data-jpa'
+	implementation 'org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-web'
 	testImplementation 'org.springframework.boot:spring-boot-starter-test'
 	testRuntimeOnly 'org.junit.platform:junit-platform-launcher'
 }
diff --git a/backend/src/main/java/org/mercury/backend/BackendApplication.java b/backend/src/main/java/org/mercury/backend/BackendApplication.java
index ebfb5db..b0e929a 100644
--- a/backend/src/main/java/org/mercury/backend/BackendApplication.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/org/mercury/backend/BackendApplication.java
@@ -2,12 +2,18 @@ package org.mercury.backend;
 
 import org.springframework.boot.SpringApplication;
 import org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.SpringBootApplication;
+import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.GetMapping;
+import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.RestController;
 
 @SpringBootApplication
+@RestController
 public class BackendApplication {
-
 	public static void main(String[] args) {
 		SpringApplication.run(BackendApplication.class, args);
 	}
 
-}
+	@GetMapping("/")
+	public String hello() {
+		return String.format("Server up and running!");
+	}
+}
\ No newline at end of file