diff --git a/lib/database/index.js b/lib/database/index.js
index bf139e9..61543d9 100644
--- a/lib/database/index.js
+++ b/lib/database/index.js
@@ -17,7 +17,11 @@ var log = require('../log')
 
 var exports = module.exports = function (env_config, callback) {
   if (!env_config.couch.run) {
-    return exports.checkExternalCouch(env_config.couch.url, callback)
+    return async.series([
+      async.apply(mkdirp, env_config.hoodie.data_path),
+      async.apply(exports.checkExternalCouch, env_config.couch.url),
+      async.apply(install, env_config)
+    ], callback)
   }
 
   var project_dir = env_config.project_dir