diff --git a/archivebox/cli/__init__.py b/archivebox/cli/__init__.py
index 3df41809..f9a55efd 100644
--- a/archivebox/cli/__init__.py
+++ b/archivebox/cli/__init__.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ def run_subcommand(subcommand: str,
 
     if subcommand not in meta_cmds:
         from ..config import setup_django
-        setup_django(in_memory_db=subcommand in fake_db)
+        setup_django(in_memory_db=subcommand in fake_db, check_db=subcommand in archive_cmds)
 
     module = import_module('.archivebox_{}'.format(subcommand), __package__)
     module.main(args=subcommand_args, stdin=stdin, pwd=pwd)    # type: ignore