diff --git a/packages/bookwyrm/nixos-module.nix b/packages/bookwyrm/nixos-module.nix
index 36cbc3f..4b97889 100644
--- a/packages/bookwyrm/nixos-module.nix
+++ b/packages/bookwyrm/nixos-module.nix
@@ -14,9 +14,10 @@ with pkgs . kernelmaft ;
 
 					[Service]
 
+					# 'initdb' fails harmlessly if it has been run on the database before
 					ExecStartPre=${coreutils-full}/bin/ln -sf ${bookwyrm}/var/lib/bookwyrm/VERSION /var/lib/bookwyrm/
 					ExecStartPre=${bookwyrm}/bin/bookwyrm-env ${python311}/bin/python ${bookwyrm}/lib/python3.11/manage.py migrate
-					ExecStartPre=${bookwyrm}/bin/bookwyrm-env ${python311}/bin/python ${bookwyrm}/lib/python3.11/manage.py initdb
+					ExecStartPre=-${bookwyrm}/bin/bookwyrm-env ${python311}/bin/python ${bookwyrm}/lib/python3.11/manage.py initdb
 					ExecStart=${bookwyrm}/bin/bookwyrm-env ${bookwyrm}/bin/bookwyrm
 
 					WorkingDirectory=/var/lib/bookwyrm
diff --git a/packages/bookwyrm/package.nix b/packages/bookwyrm/package.nix
index 0fb96b8..ad522e0 100644
--- a/packages/bookwyrm/package.nix
+++ b/packages/bookwyrm/package.nix
@@ -29,9 +29,7 @@ mkDerivation {
 
 		pwd
 
-		ls -lAh
-
-		touch write-test
+		ls -lAh /
 
 		runHook postBuild
 	'' ;