diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 65188422..7ea84270 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -97,6 +97,9 @@ migrate-status:
 init-prod:
 	@echo "🔧 Initializing production database..."
 	@echo ""
+	@echo "Step 0/5: Ensuring database exists (running migrations)..."
+	@$(PYTHON) -m alembic upgrade head
+	@echo ""
 	@echo "Step 1/5: Creating admin user and platform settings..."
 	$(PYTHON) scripts/init_production.py
 	@echo ""