diff --git a/server/cmd/server/integration_test.go b/server/cmd/server/integration_test.go
index a879d3c1..a0cee2f3 100644
--- a/server/cmd/server/integration_test.go
+++ b/server/cmd/server/integration_test.go
@@ -49,6 +49,11 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 		fmt.Printf("Skipping integration tests: could not connect to database: %v\n", err)
 		os.Exit(0)
 	}
+	if err := pool.Ping(ctx); err != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("Skipping integration tests: database not reachable: %v\n", err)
+		pool.Close()
+		os.Exit(0)
+	}
 
 	testPool = pool
 	testUserID, testWorkspaceID, err = setupIntegrationTestFixture(ctx, pool)
diff --git a/server/internal/handler/handler_test.go b/server/internal/handler/handler_test.go
index db65ea19..3251482b 100644
--- a/server/internal/handler/handler_test.go
+++ b/server/internal/handler/handler_test.go
@@ -41,6 +41,11 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 		fmt.Printf("Skipping tests: could not connect to database: %v\n", err)
 		os.Exit(0)
 	}
+	if err := pool.Ping(ctx); err != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("Skipping tests: database not reachable: %v\n", err)
+		pool.Close()
+		os.Exit(0)
+	}
 
 	queries := db.New(pool)
 	hub := realtime.NewHub()