diff --git a/.github/workflows/deploy.yaml b/.github/workflows/deploy.yaml
index d817fdf33..d3bc05543 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/deploy.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/deploy.yaml
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ jobs:
           script: |
             set -e  # Exit immediately if a command fails
 
+            # Check if helm chart exists
+            helm status ${{ inputs.name }} &>/dev/null && status=true || status=false
+
             # Upgrade helm chart, or install if not exists
             helm upgrade ${{ inputs.name }} oci://registry-1.docker.io/octoberkeleytime/bt-app \
               --install \
@@ -43,6 +46,12 @@ jobs:
               --namespace=bt \
               --values <(echo "${{ inputs.values }}")
 
+            # Restart deployment if helm chart existed
+            if [ $status = true ]; then
+              kubectl rollout restart deployment ${{ inputs.name }}-backend
+              kubectl rollout restart deployment ${{ inputs.name }}-frontend
+            fi
+
             # Check container status
             kubectl rollout status --timeout=180s deployment ${{ inputs.name }}-backend
             kubectl rollout status --timeout=180s deployment ${{ inputs.name }}-frontend
diff --git a/infra/app/templates/_helpers.tpl b/infra/app/templates/_helpers.tpl
index 9fd3683d1..9d6354d01 100644
--- a/infra/app/templates/_helpers.tpl
+++ b/infra/app/templates/_helpers.tpl
@@ -12,11 +12,6 @@ Labels applied to all resources.
 helm.sh/chart: {{ include "bt-app.chart" . }}
 app.kubernetes.io/managed-by: {{ .Release.Service }}
 app.kubernetes.io/instance: {{ .Release.Name }}
-{{/*
-the timestamp label forces a rolling update when the value is changed. necessary since
-we do not change the chart or image version when deploying.
-*/}}
-timestamp: {{ date "2006-01-02_15.04.05Z" (now) | quote }}
 env: {{ .Values.env }}
 {{- end -}}