diff --git a/backend/src/index.ts b/backend/src/index.ts
index c138deba7..18ac9d9c1 100644
--- a/backend/src/index.ts
+++ b/backend/src/index.ts
@@ -26,8 +26,11 @@ const DB_VERSION = '0001-init_db'
 
 async function main() {
   // open mysql connection
-  const con = await connection()
-  if (!con.isConnected) {
+  let con = null
+  try {
+    con = await connection()
+  } catch (error) {}
+  if (!con || !con.isConnected) {
     throw new Error(`Couldn't open connection to database`)
   }