diff --git a/api/alembic/env.py b/api/alembic/env.py
index 504da75..b781b2f 100644
--- a/api/alembic/env.py
+++ b/api/alembic/env.py
@@ -50,7 +50,13 @@ def run_migrations_online() -> None:
         # Create any tables defined in models but not yet created by migrations.
         # This bootstraps fresh databases that have no legacy schema.
         # checkfirst=True ensures this is a no-op on existing databases.
-        Base.metadata.create_all(bind=connection, checkfirst=True)
+        try:
+            Base.metadata.create_all(bind=connection, checkfirst=True)
+        except Exception as exc:
+            import logging
+            logging.getLogger("alembic.env").warning(
+                "create_all failed (non-fatal, migrations should handle table creation): %s", exc
+            )
 
 
 if context.is_offline_mode():
diff --git a/api/alembic/versions/007_bootstrap_users_table.py b/api/alembic/versions/007_bootstrap_users_table.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e9695c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/alembic/versions/007_bootstrap_users_table.py
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+"""Bootstrap users table on fresh databases.
+
+On fresh databases, migrations 001-006 skip users-table operations because
+the table does not exist yet. Base.metadata.create_all() in env.py is meant
+to handle this, but if it fails (import errors, etc.) the table is never
+created. This migration creates the users table with raw SQL as a safety net.
+
+Revision ID: 007_bootstrap_users_table
+Revises: 006_email_inbound_token_server_default
+Create Date: 2026-04-04
+"""
+
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from sqlalchemy import text
+
+from alembic import op
+
+revision = "007_bootstrap_users_table"
+down_revision = "006_email_inbound_token_server_default"
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    conn = op.get_bind()
+    inspector = sa.inspect(conn)
+    if inspector.has_table("users"):
+        return  # Table already exists (non-fresh DB or create_all already ran)
+
+    conn.execute(text("""
+        CREATE TABLE users (
+            id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+            email VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL UNIQUE,
+            hashed_password VARCHAR(255),
+            display_name VARCHAR(100),
+            email_verified BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT false,
+            image TEXT,
+            email_inbound_token VARCHAR(22) NOT NULL UNIQUE
+                DEFAULT replace(replace(trim(trailing '=' from encode(gen_random_bytes(16), 'base64')), '+', '-'), '/', '_'),
+            created_at TIMESTAMPTZ NOT NULL DEFAULT now(),
+            updated_at TIMESTAMPTZ NOT NULL DEFAULT now()
+        )
+    """))
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    op.execute(text("DROP TABLE IF EXISTS users"))