diff --git a/src/main.server.ts b/src/main.server.ts
index be4bd8edf70..6a4d7a2fa5d 100644
--- a/src/main.server.ts
+++ b/src/main.server.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import 'reflect-metadata';
  */
 import '@angular/localize/init';
 
+import { setDefaultResultOrder } from 'node:dns';
+
 import {
   bootstrapApplication,
   BootstrapContext,
@@ -15,6 +17,12 @@ import {
 import { AppComponent } from './app/app.component';
 import { serverAppConfig } from './modules/app/server-app.config';
 
+// Apply DNS resolution order fix for Node.js 17+ by preferring IPv4 over IPv6.
+// This fixes "ECONNREFUSED ::1:8080" errors in PM2 cluster mode when
+// the backend only listens on IPv4
+// See https://github.com/DSpace/dspace-angular/issues/4960
+setDefaultResultOrder('ipv4first');
+
 const bootstrap = (context: BootstrapContext) => bootstrapApplication(AppComponent, serverAppConfig, context);
 
 export default bootstrap;