diff --git a/ordr2/scripts/initializedb.py b/ordr2/scripts/initializedb.py
index 5a7c676..8ba54d2 100644
--- a/ordr2/scripts/initializedb.py
+++ b/ordr2/scripts/initializedb.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import os
 import sys
 import transaction
+from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
 from pyramid.paster import (
     get_appsettings,
@@ -33,6 +34,11 @@ def main(argv=sys.argv):
     setup_logging(config_uri)
     settings = get_appsettings(config_uri, options=options)
 
+    # remove an existing sqlite database to issue a restart
+    database_url = urlparse(settings['sqlalchemy.url'])
+    if database_url.scheme == 'sqlite' and os.path.isfile(database_url.path):
+        os.remove(path)
+
     engine = get_engine(settings)
     Base.metadata.create_all(engine)