diff --git a/artifacts/api-server/src/index.ts b/artifacts/api-server/src/index.ts
index 1a3cfed..4b50b83 100644
--- a/artifacts/api-server/src/index.ts
+++ b/artifacts/api-server/src/index.ts
@@ -62,13 +62,19 @@ async function seedAdminUser(): Promise<void> {
   }
 }
 
-app.listen(port, (err) => {
-  if (err) {
-    logger.error({ err }, "Error listening on port");
-    process.exit(1);
-  }
+async function start(): Promise<void> {
+  await ensureSessionsTable();
+  await seedAdminUser();
 
-  logger.info({ port }, "Server listening");
-  ensureSessionsTable();
-  seedAdminUser();
+  app.listen(port, (err) => {
+    if (err) {
+      logger.error({ err }, "Error listening on port");
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+    logger.info({ port }, "Server listening");
+  });
+}
+start().catch((err) => {
+  logger.error({ err }, "Server startup failed");
+  process.exit(1);
 });