diff --git a/jobsdb/jobsdb.go b/jobsdb/jobsdb.go
index 3d33d3366c6..28d2736869a 100644
--- a/jobsdb/jobsdb.go
+++ b/jobsdb/jobsdb.go
@@ -834,6 +834,16 @@ func (jd *HandleT) init() {
 		jd.dbHandle = sqlDB
 	}
 	jd.workersAndAuxSetup()
+
+	// Database schema migration should happen early, even before jobsdb is started,
+	// so that we can be sure that all the necessary tables are created and considered to be in
+	// the latest schema version, before rudder-migrator starts introducing new tables.
+	jd.dsListLock.WithLock(func(l lock.LockToken) {
+		switch jd.ownerType {
+		case Write, ReadWrite:
+			jd.setupDatabaseTables(l, jd.clearAll)
+		}
+	})
 }
 
 func (jd *HandleT) workersAndAuxSetup() {
@@ -898,24 +908,19 @@ func (jd *HandleT) Start() error {
 	jd.backgroundGroup = g
 
 	if !jd.skipSetupDBSetup {
-		jd.setUpForOwnerType(ctx, jd.ownerType, jd.clearAll)
-
-		// Avoid clearing the database, if .Start() is called again.
-		jd.clearAll = false
+		jd.setUpForOwnerType(ctx, jd.ownerType)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (jd *HandleT) setUpForOwnerType(ctx context.Context, ownerType OwnerType, clearAll bool) {
+func (jd *HandleT) setUpForOwnerType(ctx context.Context, ownerType OwnerType) {
 	jd.dsListLock.WithLock(func(l lock.LockToken) {
 		switch ownerType {
 		case Read:
 			jd.readerSetup(ctx, l)
 		case Write:
-			jd.setupDatabaseTables(l, clearAll)
 			jd.writerSetup(ctx, l)
 		case ReadWrite:
-			jd.setupDatabaseTables(l, clearAll)
 			jd.readerWriterSetup(ctx, l)
 		}
 	})