diff --git a/app.py b/app.py
index 93e6d33..6f73f21 100644
--- a/app.py
+++ b/app.py
@@ -550,8 +550,11 @@ def gone(error):
 
 # ── Entry point ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
+# Always initialise the DB when the module is imported (works under Gunicorn
+# and other WSGI servers that import app directly, not just via wsgi.py).
+init_db()
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    init_db()
     app.run(
         debug=_server.get('debug', False),
         host=_server.get('host', '0.0.0.0'),