diff --git a/litellm/proxy/health_check.py b/litellm/proxy/health_check.py
index fbe056d41c..e0664703d2 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/health_check.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/health_check.py
@@ -328,25 +328,19 @@ def _resolve_health_check_max_tokens(model_info: dict, litellm_params: dict) ->
     deployment_model = _deployment_model_string_for_health_check(litellm_params)
 
     if not is_wildcard:
+        try:
+            is_reasoning = litellm.supports_reasoning(deployment_model)
+        except Exception:
+            is_reasoning = False
         tokens_reasoning = model_info.get("health_check_max_tokens_reasoning", None)
         tokens_non_reasoning = model_info.get(
             "health_check_max_tokens_non_reasoning", None
         )
         if tokens_reasoning is not None or tokens_non_reasoning is not None:
-            try:
-                is_reasoning = litellm.supports_reasoning(deployment_model)
-            except Exception:
-                is_reasoning = False
             if is_reasoning and tokens_reasoning is not None:
                 return int(tokens_reasoning)
             if not is_reasoning and tokens_non_reasoning is not None:
                 return int(tokens_non_reasoning)
-
-    if not is_wildcard:
-        try:
-            is_reasoning = litellm.supports_reasoning(deployment_model)
-        except Exception:
-            is_reasoning = False
         if (
             is_reasoning
             and BACKGROUND_HEALTH_CHECK_MAX_TOKENS_REASONING is not None
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/test_health_check_max_tokens.py b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/test_health_check_max_tokens.py
index d5011e51fe..09211b72c3 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/test_health_check_max_tokens.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/test_health_check_max_tokens.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ from litellm.proxy.health_check import (
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_update_litellm_params_max_tokens_default(monkeypatch):
     """
-    Test that max_tokens defaults to 1 for non-wildcard models.
+    Test that max_tokens defaults to 5 for non-wildcard models.
     """
     monkeypatch.setattr(hc_module, "BACKGROUND_HEALTH_CHECK_MAX_TOKENS", None)
     monkeypatch.setattr(hc_module, "BACKGROUND_HEALTH_CHECK_MAX_TOKENS_REASONING", None)