diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index d2778af..b633022 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -88,9 +88,8 @@ async fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     if let Some(uri) = cfg.postgres.uri {
         let pg = postgres::PostgresDb::new(uri);
         let con = pg.connect().await?;
-        if !con.run_self_check().await? {
-            info!("postgres database is not yet initializing, doing so");
-        };
+        con.run_self_check().await?;
+        info!("successfully connected to postgres database");
     }
 
     let app = Router::new()
diff --git a/src/postgres.rs b/src/postgres.rs
index a770fed..d76eace 100644
--- a/src/postgres.rs
+++ b/src/postgres.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@ use thiserror::Error;
 
 #[derive(Debug, Error)]
 pub(crate) enum Error {
+    #[error("self-check failed")]
+    SelfCheckFailed,
+    #[error("user does not have permission `rolcreatedb`")]
+    NoRolCreateDb,
     #[error(transparent)]
     PostgresError(#[from] tokio_postgres::Error),
 }
@@ -33,17 +37,28 @@ pub(crate) struct PostgresConnection {
 }
 
 impl PostgresConnection {
-    pub(crate) async fn run_self_check(&self) -> Result<bool, Error> {
+    pub(crate) async fn run_self_check(&self) -> Result<(), Error> {
+        let row = self.client.query_one("SELECT 1;", &[]).await?;
+
+        let result: i32 = row.get(0);
+
+        if result != 1 {
+            return Err(Error::SelfCheckFailed);
+        }
+
         let row = self
             .client
             .query_one(
-                "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM pg_namespace WHERE nspname = 'rockslide'",
+                "SELECT rolcreatedb from pg_authid where rolname = current_user;",
                 &[],
             )
             .await?;
+        let can_create_db: bool = row.get(0);
 
-        let count: i64 = row.get(0);
+        if !can_create_db {
+            return Err(Error::NoRolCreateDb);
+        }
 
-        Ok(count > 0)
+        Ok(())
     }
 }