diff --git a/metaculus_web/settings.py b/metaculus_web/settings.py
index 6f22f065fe..d0fac67ff3 100644
--- a/metaculus_web/settings.py
+++ b/metaculus_web/settings.py
@@ -244,7 +244,6 @@
 
 STATIC_URL = "static/"
 STATIC_ROOT = os.path.join(BASE_DIR, "staticfiles")
-STATICFILES_DIRS = [BASE_DIR / "static"]
 
 # Default primary key field type
 # https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/5.0/ref/settings/#default-auto-field
diff --git a/scripts/deploy_to_heroku.sh b/scripts/deploy_to_heroku.sh
index e8bb1db9ef..38725a1b8c 100755
--- a/scripts/deploy_to_heroku.sh
+++ b/scripts/deploy_to_heroku.sh
@@ -9,6 +9,25 @@ for var in "${required_vars[@]}"; do
     fi
 done
 
+wait_and_fail_if_release_failed() {
+    max_iters=10
+    for ((i = 1; i <= max_iters; i++)); do
+        json=$(heroku releases --json)
+        # Extract the status and current fields from the first element of the array
+        status=$(echo "$json" | jq -r '.[0].status')
+        current=$(echo "$json" | jq -r '.[0].current')
+
+        [ "$status" == "pending" ] && echo "Waiting for release to finish" && sleep 1 && continue
+
+        [ "$status" == "succeeded" ] && [ "$current" == "true" ] && echo "Release succeeded " && exit 0
+
+        break
+    done
+
+    echo "Release failed."
+    exit 1
+}
+
 # These are needed for nextjs build phase, as it replaces the value of these environmental variables
 # at build time :/
 FRONTEND_ENV_FILE=$(mktemp)
@@ -30,3 +49,5 @@ done
 
 # Release them all
 heroku container:release release web dramatiq_worker django_cron -a $HEROKU_APP
+
+wait_and_fail_if_release_failed
\ No newline at end of file