diff --git a/backend/src/cyclone/__main__.py b/backend/src/cyclone/__main__.py
index e34c9db..7632e8c 100644
--- a/backend/src/cyclone/__main__.py
+++ b/backend/src/cyclone/__main__.py
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ def main() -> None:
         ]
         if reload:
             sys.argv.append("--reload")
+        # Initialize the DB (engine, migrations, schema) before the app
+        # boots so the first request hits a populated database.
+        from cyclone import db
+        db.init_db()
         import uvicorn
 
         uvicorn.main()