diff --git a/apps/server/src/services/assets.ts b/apps/server/src/services/assets.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 782ca02d7..000000000
--- a/apps/server/src/services/assets.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-import { join } from "path";
-
-const ASSET_ROOT_DIR = process.env.SERVER_ASSET_ROOT_DIR;
-if (!ASSET_ROOT_DIR) {
-    console.error("Missing SERVER_ASSET_ROOT_DIR env.");
-    process.exit(1);
-}
-
-/** Contains database initialization data such as the demo database and the schema. */
-export const DB_INIT_DIR = join(ASSET_ROOT_DIR, "db")
diff --git a/apps/server/src/services/resource_dir.ts b/apps/server/src/services/resource_dir.ts
index c4ecf757f..35c056af2 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/services/resource_dir.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/services/resource_dir.ts
@@ -6,8 +6,15 @@ export const RESOURCE_DIR = path.join(getResourceDir(), "assets");
 
 // where the "trilium" executable is
 const ELECTRON_APP_ROOT_DIR = path.resolve(RESOURCE_DIR, "../..");
+const DB_INIT_DIR = path.resolve(RESOURCE_DIR, "db");
+
+if (!fs.existsSync(DB_INIT_DIR)) {
+    console.error(`Could not find DB initialization directory: ${DB_INIT_DIR}`);
+    process.exit(1);
+}
 
 export default {
     RESOURCE_DIR,
+    DB_INIT_DIR,
     ELECTRON_APP_ROOT_DIR
 };
diff --git a/apps/server/src/services/sql_init.ts b/apps/server/src/services/sql_init.ts
index 0cc7bb255..9fc9ba2e5 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/services/sql_init.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/services/sql_init.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import log from "./log.js";
 import fs from "fs";
+import resourceDir from "./resource_dir.js";
 import sql from "./sql.js";
 import { isElectron, deferred } from "./utils.js";
 import optionService from "./options.js";
@@ -16,7 +17,6 @@ import zipImportService from "./import/zip.js";
 import password from "./encryption/password.js";
 import backup from "./backup.js";
 import eventService from "./events.js";
-import { DB_INIT_DIR } from "./assets.js";
 
 export const dbReady = deferred<void>();
 
@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ async function createInitialDatabase(skipDemoDb?: boolean) {
         throw new Error("DB is already initialized");
     }
 
-    const schema = fs.readFileSync(`${DB_INIT_DIR}/schema.sql`, "utf-8");
-    const demoFile = (!skipDemoDb ? fs.readFileSync(`${DB_INIT_DIR}/demo.zip`) : null);
+    const schema = fs.readFileSync(`${resourceDir.DB_INIT_DIR}/schema.sql`, "utf-8");
+    const demoFile = (!skipDemoDb ? fs.readFileSync(`${resourceDir.DB_INIT_DIR}/demo.zip`) : null);
 
     let rootNote!: BNote;
 
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ async function createDatabaseForSync(options: OptionRow[], syncServerHost = "",
         throw new Error("DB is already initialized");
     }
 
-    const schema = fs.readFileSync(`${DB_INIT_DIR}/schema.sql`, "utf8");
+    const schema = fs.readFileSync(`${resourceDir.DB_INIT_DIR}/schema.sql`, "utf8");
 
     // We have to import async since options init requires keyboard actions which require translations.
     const optionsInitService = (await import("./options_init.js")).default;