diff --git a/data/database.py b/data/database.py
index a2fb8d632..09971b0dd 100644
--- a/data/database.py
+++ b/data/database.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ from data.fields import (ResumableSHA256Field, ResumableSHA1Field, JSONField, Ba
 from data.text import match_mysql, match_like
 from data.read_slave import ReadSlaveModel
 from util.names import urn_generator
+from util.validation import validate_postgres_precondition
 
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -70,6 +71,12 @@ SCHEME_RANDOM_FUNCTION = {
 }
 
 
+PRECONDITION_VALIDATION = {
+  'postgresql': validate_postgres_precondition,
+  'postgresql+psycopg2': validate_postgres_precondition,
+}
+
+
 _EXTRA_ARGS = {
   'mysql': dict(charset='utf8mb4'),
   'mysql+pymysql': dict(charset='utf8mb4'),
@@ -284,6 +291,25 @@ def validate_database_url(url, db_kwargs, connect_timeout=5):
       pass
 
 
+def validate_database_precondition(url, db_kwargs, connect_timeout=5):
+  """ Validates that we can connect to the given database URL and the database meets our
+      precondition. Raises an exception if the validation fails. """
+  db_kwargs = db_kwargs.copy()
+  try:
+    driver = _db_from_url(url, db_kwargs, connect_timeout=connect_timeout, allow_retry=False,
+                          allow_pooling=False)
+    driver.connect()
+    pre_condition_check = PRECONDITION_VALIDATION.get(make_url(url).drivername)
+    if pre_condition_check:
+      pre_condition_check(driver)
+
+  finally:
+    try:
+      driver.close()
+    except:
+      pass
+
+
 def _wrap_for_retry(driver):
   return type('Retrying' + driver.__class__.__name__, (RetryOperationalError, driver), {})
 
diff --git a/util/config/validators/validate_database.py b/util/config/validators/validate_database.py
index 30fcc6d0e..dfa267397 100644
--- a/util/config/validators/validate_database.py
+++ b/util/config/validators/validate_database.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from peewee import OperationalError
 
-from data.database import validate_database_url
+from data.database import validate_database_precondition
 from util.config.validators import BaseValidator, ConfigValidationException
 
 class DatabaseValidator(BaseValidator):
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class DatabaseValidator(BaseValidator):
     config = validator_context.config
 
     try:
-      validate_database_url(config['DB_URI'], config.get('DB_CONNECTION_ARGS', {}))
+      validate_database_precondition(config['DB_URI'], config.get('DB_CONNECTION_ARGS', {}))
     except OperationalError as ex:
       if ex.args and len(ex.args) > 1:
         raise ConfigValidationException(ex.args[1])
diff --git a/util/validation.py b/util/validation.py
index 235c4afa5..eabe290c5 100644
--- a/util/validation.py
+++ b/util/validation.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import json
 
 import anunidecode # Don't listen to pylint's lies. This import is required.
 
+from peewee import OperationalError
 
 INVALID_PASSWORD_MESSAGE = 'Invalid password, password must be at least ' + \
                            '8 characters and contain no whitespace.'
@@ -89,3 +90,12 @@ def is_json(value):
     except (TypeError, ValueError):
       return False
   return False
+
+
+def validate_postgres_precondition(driver):
+  cursor = driver.execute_sql("SELECT extname FROM pg_extension", ("public",))
+  if 'pg_trgm' not in [extname for extname, in cursor.fetchall()]:
+    raise OperationalError("""
+      "pg_trgm" extension does not exists in the database.
+      Please run `CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS pg_trgm;` as superuser on this database.
+    """)