diff --git a/squeaknode/node/squeak_node.py b/squeaknode/node/squeak_node.py
index 8c671c57..28af14c7 100644
--- a/squeaknode/node/squeak_node.py
+++ b/squeaknode/node/squeak_node.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 # OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
 # SOFTWARE.
 import logging
+import time
 
 from squeak.params import SelectParams
 
@@ -111,7 +112,13 @@ class SqueakNode:
             connection_string))
         engine = get_engine(connection_string)
         self.squeak_db = SqueakDb(engine)
-        self.squeak_db.init()
+        for _ in range(10):
+            try:
+                self.squeak_db.init()
+                break
+            except Exception:
+                logger.exception("Failed to initialize database.")
+                time.sleep(10)
 
     def initialize_lightning_client(self):
         # load the lightning client