diff --git a/backend_server/database.py b/backend_server/database.py
index bf8caa12..97fe2739 100644
--- a/backend_server/database.py
+++ b/backend_server/database.py
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ def __init__(self, host, dbport, dbname, user, password):
                 session.query('SELECT count(*) FROM test_run')
         except Exception:
             print('ERROR: Given database is empty. Consider archiving some results first.')
-            sys.exit(1)
 
         self.session = queries.TornadoSession(connection_uri)