diff --git a/pkg/services/sqlstore/sqlstore.go b/pkg/services/sqlstore/sqlstore.go
index 85637bdbe07..6331be78a8d 100644
--- a/pkg/services/sqlstore/sqlstore.go
+++ b/pkg/services/sqlstore/sqlstore.go
@@ -117,8 +117,10 @@ func (ss *SQLStore) Init() error {
 		return err
 	}
 	// Make sure the changes are synced, so they get shared with eventual other DB connections
-	if err := ss.Sync(); err != nil {
-		return err
+	if !ss.dbCfg.SkipMigrations {
+		if err := ss.Sync(); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 
 	return nil