diff --git a/squeaknode/db/squeak_db.py b/squeaknode/db/squeak_db.py
index cf8d6c11..c8b61eb1 100644
--- a/squeaknode/db/squeak_db.py
+++ b/squeaknode/db/squeak_db.py
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ from squeaknode.core.squeak_entry import SqueakEntry
 from squeaknode.core.squeak_peer import SqueakPeer
 from squeaknode.core.squeak_profile import SqueakProfile
 from squeaknode.core.squeaks import get_hash
+from squeaknode.db.exception import SqueakDatabaseError
 from squeaknode.db.migrations import run_migrations
 from squeaknode.db.models import Models
 
@@ -96,7 +97,7 @@ class SqueakDb:
                 logger.exception("Failed to initialize database.")
                 n += 1
                 if n >= num_retries:
-                    raise Exception("Failed to initialize database.")
+                    raise SqueakDatabaseError("Failed to initialize database.")
                 time.sleep(retry_interval_s)
 
     @property
diff --git a/tests/db/test_squeak_db.py b/tests/db/test_squeak_db.py
index d6f11d15..165e788c 100644
--- a/tests/db/test_squeak_db.py
+++ b/tests/db/test_squeak_db.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import mock
 import pytest
 from sqlalchemy import create_engine
 
+from squeaknode.db.exception import SqueakDatabaseError
 from squeaknode.db.squeak_db import SqueakDb
 from tests.utils import gen_address
 from tests.utils import gen_contact_profile
@@ -423,7 +424,7 @@ def test_init_with_retries_fail_many_times(squeak_db):
             mock.patch('squeaknode.db.squeak_db.time.sleep', autospec=True) as mock_sleep:
         mock_init.side_effect = [Exception('some db error')] * 5
 
-        with pytest.raises(Exception) as excinfo:
+        with pytest.raises(SqueakDatabaseError) as excinfo:
             squeak_db.init_with_retries(num_retries=5, retry_interval_s=100)
         assert "Failed to initialize database." in str(excinfo.value)