diff --git a/apps/server/src/services/sql.ts b/apps/server/src/services/sql.ts
index 36d627778..6f366e997 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/services/sql.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/services/sql.ts
@@ -389,10 +389,6 @@ function disableSlowQueryLogging<T>(cb: () => T) {
     }
 }
 
-function getDbConnection(): DatabaseType {
-    return dbConnection;
-}
-
 export default {
     insert,
     replace,
@@ -460,6 +456,5 @@ export default {
     fillParamList,
     copyDatabase,
     disableSlowQueryLogging,
-    rebuildIntegrationTestDatabase,
-    getDbConnection
+    rebuildIntegrationTestDatabase
 };
diff --git a/apps/server/src/services/sql_init.ts b/apps/server/src/services/sql_init.ts
index dca2d56dc..e0a89295e 100644
--- a/apps/server/src/services/sql_init.ts
+++ b/apps/server/src/services/sql_init.ts
@@ -67,20 +67,8 @@ async function initDbConnection() {
         PRIMARY KEY (tmpID)
     );`)
 
-    // Register SQLite search functions after database is ready
-    try {
-        const { getSqliteFunctionsService } = await import("./search/sqlite_functions.js");
-        const functionsService = getSqliteFunctionsService();
-        const db = sql.getDbConnection();
-        
-        if (functionsService.registerFunctions(db)) {
-            log.info("SQLite search functions registered successfully");
-        } else {
-            log.info("SQLite search functions registration skipped (already registered)");
-        }
-    } catch (error) {
-        log.error(`Failed to register SQLite search functions: ${error}`);
-    }
+    // Note: SQLite search functions are now initialized directly in sql.ts
+    // This ensures they're available before any queries run
 
     dbReady.resolve();
 }