diff --git a/server/internal/api/websocket.go b/server/internal/api/websocket.go
index 5d2c308..c7b072e 100644
--- a/server/internal/api/websocket.go
+++ b/server/internal/api/websocket.go
@@ -121,8 +121,10 @@ type WSHub struct {
 func NewWSHub(database *db.Database) *WSHub {
 	// Reset any rows that were left "online" by a previous server crash/restart.
 	// Agents will re-authenticate and flip themselves back to online within seconds.
-	if err := database.MarkAllAgentsOffline(); err != nil {
-		log.Printf("[hub] startup offline reset: %v", err)
+	if database != nil {
+		if err := database.MarkAllAgentsOffline(); err != nil {
+			log.Printf("[hub] startup offline reset: %v", err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	h := &WSHub{
@@ -148,6 +150,9 @@ func NewWSHub(database *db.Database) *WSHub {
 // last_seen timestamp is stale (> 3 minutes without a stats message).
 // It also notifies the dashboard so client state stays in sync.
 func (h *WSHub) runStaleAgentSweep() {
+	if h.db == nil {
+		return
+	}
 	const staleness = 3 * time.Minute
 	ticker := time.NewTicker(45 * time.Second)
 	defer ticker.Stop()