diff --git a/container-engine-lib/lib/backend_impls/docker/docker_kurtosis_backend/docker_kurtosis_backend.go b/container-engine-lib/lib/backend_impls/docker/docker_kurtosis_backend/docker_kurtosis_backend.go
index abbcccd7cc..d9b47c32d4 100644
--- a/container-engine-lib/lib/backend_impls/docker/docker_kurtosis_backend/docker_kurtosis_backend.go
+++ b/container-engine-lib/lib/backend_impls/docker/docker_kurtosis_backend/docker_kurtosis_backend.go
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ func (backend *DockerKurtosisBackend) StartRegisteredUserServices(ctx context.Co
 
 	var restartPolicy docker_manager.RestartPolicy = docker_manager.NoRestart
 	if backend.productionMode {
-		restartPolicy = docker_manager.RestartOnFailure
+		restartPolicy = docker_manager.RestartAlways
 	}
 
 	successfullyStartedService, failedService, err := user_service_functions.StartRegisteredUserServices(
diff --git a/container-engine-lib/lib/backend_impls/kubernetes/kubernetes_kurtosis_backend/kubernetes_kurtosis_backend.go b/container-engine-lib/lib/backend_impls/kubernetes/kubernetes_kurtosis_backend/kubernetes_kurtosis_backend.go
index 99c26b3134..74993c20b6 100644
--- a/container-engine-lib/lib/backend_impls/kubernetes/kubernetes_kurtosis_backend/kubernetes_kurtosis_backend.go
+++ b/container-engine-lib/lib/backend_impls/kubernetes/kubernetes_kurtosis_backend/kubernetes_kurtosis_backend.go
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ func (backend *KubernetesKurtosisBackend) StartRegisteredUserServices(
 ) {
 	restartPolicy := apiv1.RestartPolicyNever
 	if backend.productionMode {
-		restartPolicy = apiv1.RestartPolicyOnFailure
+		restartPolicy = apiv1.RestartPolicyAlways
 	}
 
 	successfullyStartedServices, failedServices, err := user_services_functions.StartRegisteredUserServices(
diff --git a/docs/docs/api-reference/engine-apic-reference.md b/docs/docs/api-reference/engine-apic-reference.md
index 6bb083d701..06be763643 100644
--- a/docs/docs/api-reference/engine-apic-reference.md
+++ b/docs/docs/api-reference/engine-apic-reference.md
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ Creates a new Kurtosis enclave using the given parameters. The enclave will be c
 * `enclaveContext`: An [EnclaveContext][enclavecontext] object representing the new enclave.
 
 ### `createProductionEnclave(String enclaveName) -> [EnclaveContext][enclavecontext] enclaveContext`
-Same as above, but creates an enclave in production mode (services will restart upon failure)
+Same as above, but creates an enclave in production mode (services will restart if they die)
 
 
 ### `getEnclaveContext(String enclaveIdentifier) -> [EnclaveContext][enclavecontext] enclaveContext`