diff --git a/api.php b/api.php
index 5a02cb8..cb9194a 100644
--- a/api.php
+++ b/api.php
@@ -1,6 +1,19 @@
 <?php
 
-$database = new SQLite3('outchat.db');
+
+$initialized = file_exists('outchat.db');
+
+try {
+    $database = new SQLite3('outchat.db');
+} catch (Exception $exception) {
+    http_response_code(500);
+    echo $exception;
+    die(-1);
+}
+
+if (!$initialized) {
+    $database->exec(file_get_contents("outchat-ddl.sql"));
+}
 
 $action = $_GET['action'];