diff --git a/openquake/commands/webui.py b/openquake/commands/webui.py
index 990c68698578..b743ccbb3235 100644
--- a/openquake/commands/webui.py
+++ b/openquake/commands/webui.py
@@ -22,11 +22,12 @@
 import webbrowser
 
 from openquake.baselib import config, general
-from openquake.server import dbserver, db
+from openquake.server import dbserver
 from openquake.server.utils import check_webserver_running
 
 commands = ['start']
 
+
 def runserver(hostport=None, skip_browser=False):
     args = [sys.executable, '-m', 'openquake.server.manage', 'runserver']
     # the reload functionality of the Django development server interferes
@@ -56,8 +57,6 @@ def main(cmd, hostport='127.0.0.1:8800', skip_browser: bool = False):
         sys.exit('This command must be run by the proper user: '
                  'see the documentation for details')
     dbserver.ensure_on()  # start the dbserver in a subprocess
-    # reset any computation left in the 'executing' state
-    db.actions.reset_is_running(dbserver.db)
     print('Starting, using version %s' % general.engine_version())
     runserver(hostport, skip_browser)
 
diff --git a/openquake/server/apps.py b/openquake/server/apps.py
index 782e276d7c15..4633c34f8596 100644
--- a/openquake/server/apps.py
+++ b/openquake/server/apps.py
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@
 import os
 from django.apps import AppConfig
 from django.conf import settings
+from sqlite3 import OperationalError
 from openquake.baselib import config
+from openquake.server import dbserver, db
 
 
 class ServerConfig(AppConfig):
@@ -34,6 +36,13 @@ def ready(self):
         #     AppConfig classes are defined, you can import them in ready()
         import openquake.server.signals  # NOQA
 
+        # reset any computation left in the 'executing' state
+        try:
+            db.actions.reset_is_running(dbserver.db)
+        except OperationalError:
+            # in the action "docs" the database does not exist
+            pass
+
         if settings.APPLICATION_MODE not in settings.APPLICATION_MODES:
             raise ValueError(
                 f'Invalid application mode: "{settings.APPLICATION_MODE}".'