diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e2888984..8a83bb12 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,10 +11,18 @@ A simplistic, opinionated remote update server implementing hawkBit™'s [DDI AP
 ### Installation
 
 1. Install dependencies using [Poetry](https://python-poetry.org/):
+
     ```bash
     poetry install
     ```
-2. Launch gooseBit:
+
+2. Create the database:
+
+    ```bash
+    poetry run aerich upgrade
+    ```
+
+3. Launch gooseBit:
     ```bash
     python main.py
     ```
diff --git a/goosebit/__init__.py b/goosebit/__init__.py
index bc04a887..1c72e5a9 100644
--- a/goosebit/__init__.py
+++ b/goosebit/__init__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import importlib.metadata
 from contextlib import asynccontextmanager
+from logging import getLogger
 from typing import Annotated
 
 from fastapi import Depends, FastAPI
@@ -16,12 +17,17 @@
 from goosebit.ui.static import static
 from goosebit.ui.templates import templates
 
+logger = getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 @asynccontextmanager
 async def lifespan(_: FastAPI):
-    await db.init()
+    db_ready = await db.init()
+    if not db_ready:
+        logger.exception("DB does not exist, try running `poetry run aerich upgrade`.")
     await metrics.init()
-    yield
+    if db_ready:
+        yield
     await db.close()
 
 
diff --git a/goosebit/db/__init__.py b/goosebit/db/__init__.py
index f5f0cc9b..e187f781 100644
--- a/goosebit/db/__init__.py
+++ b/goosebit/db/__init__.py
@@ -1,10 +1,21 @@
+from logging import getLogger
+
 from tortoise import Tortoise
+from tortoise.exceptions import OperationalError
 
 from goosebit.db.config import TORTOISE_CONF
+from goosebit.db.models import Device
+
+logger = getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-async def init():
+async def init() -> bool:
     await Tortoise.init(config=TORTOISE_CONF)
+    try:
+        await Device.first()
+    except OperationalError:
+        return False
+    return True
 
 
 async def close():
diff --git a/goosebit/updates/__init__.py b/goosebit/updates/__init__.py
index b2c08d1e..51c1c6dd 100644
--- a/goosebit/updates/__init__.py
+++ b/goosebit/updates/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
 import shutil
 from pathlib import Path
 from urllib.parse import unquote, urlparse
@@ -10,6 +12,7 @@
 from goosebit.db.models import Hardware, Software
 from goosebit.updater.manager import UpdateManager
 
+from ..settings import config
 from . import swdesc
 
 
@@ -42,7 +45,8 @@ async def create_software_update(uri: str, temp_file: Path | None) -> Software:
 
     # for local file: rename temp file to final name
     if parsed_uri.scheme == "file":
-        path = _unique_path(parsed_uri)
+        filename = Path(url2pathname(unquote(parsed_uri.path))).name
+        path = config.artifacts_dir.joinpath(update_info["hash"], filename)
         path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
         shutil.copy(temp_file, path)
         uri = path.absolute().as_uri()
@@ -85,20 +89,6 @@ async def _is_software_colliding(update_info):
     return is_colliding
 
 
-def _unique_path(uri):
-    path = Path(url2pathname(unquote(uri.path)))
-    if not path.exists():
-        return path
-
-    counter = 1
-    new_path = path.with_name(f"{path.stem}-{counter}{path.suffix}")
-    while new_path.exists():
-        counter += 1
-        new_path = path.with_name(f"{path.stem}-{counter}{path.suffix}")
-
-    return new_path
-
-
 async def generate_chunk(request: Request, updater: UpdateManager) -> list:
     _, software = await updater.get_update()
     if software is None: