diff --git a/netbox/netbox/__init__.py b/netbox/netbox/__init__.py
index 74a9061a3..361659e58 100644
--- a/netbox/netbox/__init__.py
+++ b/netbox/netbox/__init__.py
@@ -1,12 +1,18 @@
 from distutils.version import StrictVersion
 
 from django.db import connection
+from django.db.utils import OperationalError
 
 
-# NetBox v2.2 and later requires PostgreSQL 9.4 or higher
-with connection.cursor() as cursor:
-    cursor.execute("SELECT VERSION()")
-    row = cursor.fetchone()
-    pg_version = row[0].split()[1]
-    if StrictVersion(pg_version) < StrictVersion('9.4.0'):
-        raise Exception("PostgreSQL 9.4.0 or higher is required. ({} found)".format(pg_version))
+# NetBox v2.2 and later requires PostgreSQL 9.4 or higher.
+try:
+    with connection.cursor() as cursor:
+        cursor.execute("SELECT VERSION()")
+        row = cursor.fetchone()
+        pg_version = row[0].split()[1]
+        if StrictVersion(pg_version) < StrictVersion('9.4.0'):
+            raise Exception("PostgreSQL 9.4.0 or higher is required. ({} found)".format(pg_version))
+
+# Skip if the database is missing (e.g. for CI testing) or misconfigured.
+except OperationalError:
+    pass