diff --git a/initdb.py b/initdb.py
index 2c1615cf7..36ce9f672 100644
--- a/initdb.py
+++ b/initdb.py
@@ -836,13 +836,14 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
   parser.add_argument('--simple', action='store_true')
   args = parser.parse_args()
 
-  log_level = getattr(logging, app.config['LOGGING_LEVEL'])
+  log_level = os.environ.get('LOGGING_LEVEL', getattr(logging, app.config['LOGGING_LEVEL']))
   logging.basicConfig(level=log_level)
 
   if not IS_TESTING_REAL_DATABASE and not isinstance(db.obj, SqliteDatabase):
     raise RuntimeError('Attempted to initialize production database!')
 
-  initialize_database()
+  if os.environ.get('SKIP_DB_SCHEMA', '').lower() != 'true':
+    initialize_database()
 
   populate_database(args.simple)