diff --git a/cmd/rewards-exporter/main.go b/cmd/rewards-exporter/main.go
index 66bee5a8c0..7c77fe09c5 100644
--- a/cmd/rewards-exporter/main.go
+++ b/cmd/rewards-exporter/main.go
@@ -37,6 +37,22 @@ func main() {
 	utils.Config = cfg
 	logrus.WithField("config", *configPath).WithField("version", version.Version).WithField("chainName", utils.Config.Chain.Config.ConfigName).Printf("starting")
 
+	db.MustInitDB(&types.DatabaseConfig{
+		Username: cfg.WriterDatabase.Username,
+		Password: cfg.WriterDatabase.Password,
+		Name:     cfg.WriterDatabase.Name,
+		Host:     cfg.WriterDatabase.Host,
+		Port:     cfg.WriterDatabase.Port,
+	}, &types.DatabaseConfig{
+		Username: cfg.ReaderDatabase.Username,
+		Password: cfg.ReaderDatabase.Password,
+		Name:     cfg.ReaderDatabase.Name,
+		Host:     cfg.ReaderDatabase.Host,
+		Port:     cfg.ReaderDatabase.Port,
+	})
+	defer db.ReaderDb.Close()
+	defer db.WriterDb.Close()
+
 	client, err := beacon.NewClient(*bnAddress)
 	if err != nil {
 		logrus.Fatal(err)