diff --git a/backend/Dockerfile b/backend/Dockerfile
index e726710..2bb3f77 100644
--- a/backend/Dockerfile
+++ b/backend/Dockerfile
@@ -42,4 +42,4 @@ COPY --chown=node:node --from=builder /app/prisma/tsconfig.seed.json ./prisma/ts
 COPY --chown=node:node --from=builder /app/prisma/scientificTerms.ts ./prisma/scientificTerms.ts
 EXPOSE 3000
 USER node
-CMD ["sh", "-c", "npx prisma migrate deploy && if [ -f dist/src/main.js ]; then node dist/src/main.js; else node dist/main.js; fi"]
+CMD ["sh", "-c", "npx prisma db push --skip-generate && if [ -f dist/src/main.js ]; then node dist/src/main.js; else node dist/main.js; fi"]
diff --git a/backend/src/menu/menu.service.ts b/backend/src/menu/menu.service.ts
index 8c7e20b..595ef03 100644
--- a/backend/src/menu/menu.service.ts
+++ b/backend/src/menu/menu.service.ts
@@ -8,12 +8,21 @@ export class MenuService implements OnModuleInit {
   constructor(private prisma: PrismaService) {}
 
   async onModuleInit() {
-    await this.seedIfEmpty();
+    try {
+      await this.seedIfEmpty();
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.warn('[MenuService] seedIfEmpty skipped during module init:', err?.message || err);
+    }
   }
 
   private async seedIfEmpty() {
-    const count = await this.prisma.menuItem.count();
-    if (count > 0) return;
+    try {
+      const count = await this.prisma.menuItem.count();
+      if (count > 0) return;
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.warn('[MenuService] menuItem table not accessible yet:', err?.message || err);
+      return;
+    }
 
     // Seed with current site navigation
     const headerItems = [