diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-and-push-bsky-aws.yaml b/.github/workflows/build-and-push-bsky-aws.yaml
index 36b1aa23cb3..65c27574f38 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-and-push-bsky-aws.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-and-push-bsky-aws.yaml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ on:
   push:
     branches:
       - main
+      - enable-migrations
 env:
   REGISTRY: ${{ secrets.AWS_ECR_REGISTRY_USEAST2_PACKAGES_REGISTRY }}
   USERNAME: ${{ secrets.AWS_ECR_REGISTRY_USEAST2_PACKAGES_USERNAME }}
diff --git a/services/bsky/api.js b/services/bsky/api.js
index ec38c55ae55..3868b060061 100644
--- a/services/bsky/api.js
+++ b/services/bsky/api.js
@@ -27,6 +27,15 @@ const {
 const main = async () => {
   const env = getEnv()
   assert(env.dbPrimaryPostgresUrl, 'missing configuration for db')
+  // separate db needed for more permissions
+  const migrateDb = new PrimaryDatabase({
+    url: env.dbMigratePostgresUrl,
+    schema: env.dbPostgresSchema,
+    poolSize: 2,
+  })
+  await migrateDb.migrateToLatestOrThrow()
+  await migrateDb.close()
+
   const db = new DatabaseCoordinator({
     schema: env.dbPostgresSchema,
     primary: {
@@ -73,12 +82,12 @@ const main = async () => {
     algos,
   })
   // separate db needed for more permissions
-  const migrateDb = new PrimaryDatabase({
+  const viewMaintainerDb = new PrimaryDatabase({
     url: env.dbMigratePostgresUrl,
     schema: env.dbPostgresSchema,
     poolSize: 2,
   })
-  const viewMaintainer = new ViewMaintainer(migrateDb)
+  const viewMaintainer = new ViewMaintainer(viewMaintainerDb)
   const viewMaintainerRunning = viewMaintainer.run()
 
   const periodicModerationActionReversal = new PeriodicModerationActionReversal(
@@ -96,7 +105,7 @@ const main = async () => {
     await bsky.destroy()
     viewMaintainer.destroy()
     await viewMaintainerRunning
-    await migrateDb.close()
+    await viewMaintainerDb.close()
   })
 }