diff --git a/run-downloadDb.js b/run-downloadDb.js
index 646a04d..2a4dabe 100644
--- a/run-downloadDb.js
+++ b/run-downloadDb.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { readFile, writeFile } from 'fs/promises';
 import { getArg } from './lib/args.js';
 import { getMany } from './lib/dl.js';
 import { error, log } from './lib/log.js';
+import { initDb } from './run-initDb.js';
 
 const ctx = 'downloadDb.js';
 
@@ -10,8 +11,11 @@ const ctx = 'downloadDb.js';
  * Downloads all media possible for the users stored in db.json at the specified `--path`.
  * Useful for first run or for augmenting existing media
  * if it may be only partially archived in an uncertain state.
- * The db.json must be present in order for this to run,
- * as it will run for the users specified in the db.json and not the directories in the folder.
+ *
+ * If the db.json is missing, it will be automatically created,
+ * as this depends on users being defined in the db.json and not the folders present
+ * (as there could be some users whose accounts no longer exist
+ * or otherwise may not be maintained by the db.json anymore)
  */
 const downloadDb = async () => {
   log(ctx, 'Grabbing db');
@@ -28,12 +32,26 @@ const downloadDb = async () => {
   } catch (err) {
     log(ctx, 'Using 1 thread');
   }
-  try {
+  const tryReadDb = async () => {
     let file = await readFile(`${directory}/db.json`, { encoding: 'utf8' });
     db = JSON.parse(file);
+  }
+  try {
+    await tryReadDb();
   } catch (err) {
-    error(ctx, err);
-    return;
+    if (err.toString().includes('ENOENT')) {
+      try {
+        log(ctx, 'Database was not yet present. Creating it now.');
+        await initDb();
+        await tryReadDb();
+      } catch (err2) {
+        error(ctx, err2);
+        return;
+      }
+    } else {
+      error(ctx, err);
+      return;
+    }
   }
 
   let processes = db.map(entry => ({
diff --git a/run-initDb.js b/run-initDb.js
index 18db851..219881c 100644
--- a/run-initDb.js
+++ b/run-initDb.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ const ctx = 'initDb.js';
  * at the specified `--path` parameter when executing the command.
  * Useful when there is already a collection of folders.
  */
-const initDb = async () => {
+export const initDb = async () => {
   log(ctx, 'Grabbing existing directories');
   let directory = '';
   try {