diff --git a/nixos/modules/services/mail/listmonk.nix b/nixos/modules/services/mail/listmonk.nix
index 945eb436c1f2..d6399304cc10 100644
--- a/nixos/modules/services/mail/listmonk.nix
+++ b/nixos/modules/services/mail/listmonk.nix
@@ -187,7 +187,11 @@ in {
           # Indeed, it will try to create all the folders and realize one of them already exist.
           # Therefore, we have to create it ourselves.
           ''${pkgs.coreutils}/bin/mkdir -p "''${STATE_DIRECTORY}/listmonk/uploads"''
-          "${cfg.package}/bin/listmonk --config ${cfgFile} --idempotent --install --upgrade --yes"
+          # setup database if not already done
+          "${cfg.package}/bin/listmonk --config ${cfgFile} --idempotent --install --yes"
+          # apply db migrations (setup and migrations can not be done in one step
+          # with "--install --upgrade" listmonk ignores the upgrade)
+          "${cfg.package}/bin/listmonk --config ${cfgFile} --upgrade --yes"
           "${updateDatabaseConfigScript}/bin/update-database-config.sh"
         ];
         ExecStart = "${cfg.package}/bin/listmonk --config ${cfgFile}";