diff --git a/deploy/local/Makefile b/deploy/local/Makefile
index 836b601..7a2cc31 100644
--- a/deploy/local/Makefile
+++ b/deploy/local/Makefile
@@ -55,8 +55,11 @@ env: ## Generate the environment from templates and configuration values
 
 ##################### Database
 
-databases: provision-databases migrate provision-oauth2 ## Bootstrap databases
+databases: init-mysql provision-databases migrate provision-oauth2 ## Bootstrap databases
 
+init-mysql: ## Make sure that mysql is properly initialized
+	docker-compose up -d mysql
+	docker-compose stop mysql
 provision-databases: ## Create necessary databases and users
 	$(DOCKER_COMPOSE_RUN) -v $(PWD)/../env/openedx/scripts:/openedx/scripts lms /openedx/scripts/provision.sh
 provision-oauth2: ## Create users for SSO between services