diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/misc/gitea.nix b/nixos/modules/services/misc/gitea.nix
index 84fa9bfb6b5..4e8bb01e3d6 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/misc/gitea.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/misc/gitea.nix
@@ -522,6 +522,9 @@ in
           (umask 027; gitea_setup)
         ''}
 
+        # run migrations/init the database
+        ${gitea}/bin/gitea migrate
+
         # update all hooks' binary paths
         ${gitea}/bin/gitea admin regenerate hooks