diff --git a/core/src/version/v0_3_6_alpha_0.rs b/core/src/version/v0_3_6_alpha_0.rs
index cae4e917e..d1d3d4242 100644
--- a/core/src/version/v0_3_6_alpha_0.rs
+++ b/core/src/version/v0_3_6_alpha_0.rs
@@ -277,7 +277,12 @@ impl VersionT for Version {
     /// MUST be idempotent, and is run after *all* db migrations
     async fn post_up(self, ctx: &RpcContext, input: Value) -> Result<(), Error> {
         let path = Path::new(formatcp!("{PACKAGE_DATA}/archive/"));
-        if !path.is_dir() {
+        let metadata = tokio::fs::metadata(path).await;
+        if metadata.is_err() {
+            // Treat non-existent archive directory as empty
+            return Ok(());
+        }
+        if !metadata.unwrap().is_dir() {
             return Err(Error::new(
                 eyre!(
                     "expected path ({}) to be a directory",