diff --git a/bin/postal b/bin/postal
index 34a6d22..5a74f68 100755
--- a/bin/postal
+++ b/bin/postal
@@ -25,12 +25,15 @@ case "$1" in
 
     initialize)
         echo 'Initializing database'
-        run "bundle exec rake db:create db:schema:load db:seed"
+        run "bundle exec rake db:create postal:update"
         ;;
 
     upgrade)
-        echo 'Migrating database'
-        run "bundle exec rake db:migrate"
+        run "bundle exec rake postal:update"
+        ;;
+
+    update)
+        run "bundle exec rake postal:update"
         ;;
 
     console)
@@ -65,7 +68,7 @@ case "$1" in
         echo "Setup/upgrade tools:"
         echo
         echo -e " * \033[32minitialize\033[0m - create and load the DB schema"
-        echo -e " * \033[32mupgrade\033[0m - upgrade the DB schema"
+        echo -e " * \033[32mupdate\033[0m - upgrade the DB schema"
         echo
         echo "Other tools:"
         echo
diff --git a/lib/tasks/postal.rake b/lib/tasks/postal.rake
index 4b19805..ef1e85a 100644
--- a/lib/tasks/postal.rake
+++ b/lib/tasks/postal.rake
@@ -27,6 +27,19 @@ namespace :postal do
   task generate_helm_env_vars: :environment do
     puts Postal::HelmConfigExporter.new(Postal::ConfigSchema).export
   end
+
+  desc "Update the database"
+  task update: :environment do
+    mysql = ActiveRecord::Base.connection
+    if mysql.table_exists?("schema_migrations") &&
+       mysql.select_all("select * from schema_migrations").any?
+      puts "Database schema is already loaded. Running migrations with db:migrate"
+      Rake::Task["db:migrate"].invoke
+    else
+      puts "No schema migrations exist. Loading schema with db:schema:load"
+      Rake::Task["db:schema:load"].invoke
+    end
+  end
 end
 
 Rake::Task["db:migrate"].enhance do