diff --git a/gtm-architect/server.cjs b/gtm-architect/server.cjs
index 2af6d5d7..bc3fb24c 100644
--- a/gtm-architect/server.cjs
+++ b/gtm-architect/server.cjs
@@ -9,6 +9,23 @@ const VERSION = "1.0.0"; // Added for debugging and tracking
 const app = express();
 const port = 3005;
 
+// --- DATABASE INITIALIZATION ---
+// Initialize the SQLite database on startup to ensure the 'gtm_projects' table exists.
+const dbScript = path.join(__dirname, 'gtm_db_manager.py');
+console.log(`[Init] Initializing database via ${dbScript}...`);
+const initProcess = spawn('python3', [dbScript, 'init']);
+
+initProcess.stdout.on('data', (data) => console.log(`[DB Init] ${data.toString().trim()}`));
+initProcess.stderr.on('data', (data) => console.error(`[DB Init Error] ${data.toString().trim()}`));
+initProcess.on('close', (code) => {
+    if (code === 0) {
+        console.log('[DB Init] Database initialization completed successfully.');
+    } else {
+        console.error(`[DB Init] Database initialization failed with code ${code}.`);
+    }
+});
+// -------------------------------
+
 // Enable CORS for all routes
 app.use(cors());