diff --git a/databaseReset.py b/databaseReset.py
index 01d000a..0131329 100644
--- a/databaseReset.py
+++ b/databaseReset.py
@@ -103,7 +103,10 @@ def reinit_db():
         # this is now completely failing to nuke MariaDB adequately, and it crashes when creating Area objects with a no null parent message
         # when null parents are explciitly allowed in the model.
         cursor = django.db.connection.cursor()
-        cursor.execute(f"DROP DATABASE {currentdbname}")
+        try:
+            cursor.execute(f"DROP DATABASE {currentdbname}")
+        except:
+            pass
         cursor.execute(f"CREATE DATABASE {currentdbname}")
         cursor.execute(f"ALTER DATABASE {currentdbname} CHARACTER SET=utf8")
         cursor.execute(f"USE {currentdbname}")