diff --git a/bin/quickstart.sh b/bin/quickstart.sh
--- a/bin/quickstart.sh
+++ b/bin/quickstart.sh
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@
 
 pushd ${base_dir}/src/
 rm -rf database/database.sqlite
+./artisan db:ping --wait
 php -dmemory_limit=512M ./artisan migrate:refresh --seed
 ./artisan serve
 popd
diff --git a/docker/worker/kolab-worker.sh b/docker/worker/kolab-worker.sh
--- a/docker/worker/kolab-worker.sh
+++ b/docker/worker/kolab-worker.sh
@@ -13,4 +13,6 @@
 rm -rf bootstrap/cache/
 mkdir -p bootstrap/cache/
 
+./artisan db:ping --wait
+
 ./artisan queue:work
diff --git a/src/app/Console/Commands/DBPing.php b/src/app/Console/Commands/DBPing.php
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/Console/Commands/DBPing.php
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace App\Console\Commands;
+
+use Illuminate\Console\Command;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\DB;
+
+class DBPing extends Command
+{
+    /**
+     * The name and signature of the console command.
+     *
+     * @var string
+     */
+    protected $signature = 'db:ping {--wait}';
+
+    /**
+     * The console command description.
+     *
+     * @var string
+     */
+    protected $description = 'Ping the database [and wait for it to respond]';
+
+    /**
+     * Create a new command instance.
+     *
+     * @return void
+     */
+    public function __construct()
+    {
+        parent::__construct();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Execute the console command.
+     *
+     * @return mixed
+     */
+    public function handle()
+    {
+        if ($this->option('wait')) {
+            while (true) {
+                try {
+                    $result = DB::select("SELECT 1");
+
+                    if (sizeof($result) > 0) {
+                        break;
+                    }
+                } catch (\Exception $exception) {
+                    sleep(1);
+                }
+            }
+        } else {
+            try {
+                $result = DB::select("SELECT 1");
+                return 0;
+            } catch (\Exception $exception) {
+                return 1;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}