diff --git a/flight-comparator/database/init_db.py b/flight-comparator/database/init_db.py
index d024102..d992820 100644
--- a/flight-comparator/database/init_db.py
+++ b/flight-comparator/database/init_db.py
@@ -138,6 +138,13 @@ def _migrate_add_routes_unique_index(conn, verbose=True):
     Collapses any pre-existing duplicate (scan_id, destination) rows first
     (keeps the row with the lowest id) before creating the index.
     """
+    # Fresh install: routes table doesn't exist yet — schema will create the index
+    cursor = conn.execute(
+        "SELECT name FROM sqlite_master WHERE type='table' AND name='routes'"
+    )
+    if not cursor.fetchone():
+        return
+
     cursor = conn.execute(
         "SELECT name FROM sqlite_master WHERE type='index' AND name='uq_routes_scan_dest'"
     )
@@ -177,6 +184,8 @@ def _migrate_add_scheduled_scan_id_to_scans(conn, verbose=True):
     """
     cursor = conn.execute("PRAGMA table_info(scans)")
     columns = [row[1] for row in cursor.fetchall()]
+    if not columns:
+        return  # Fresh install: scans table doesn't exist yet — schema will create the column
     if 'scheduled_scan_id' in columns:
         return  # Already migrated