diff --git a/payphone/bot.py b/payphone/bot.py
index 836a8b3..d89c5d0 100644
--- a/payphone/bot.py
+++ b/payphone/bot.py
@@ -74,16 +74,9 @@ class Payphone(commands.AutoShardedBot):
         )
 
     async def on_ready(self) -> None:
-        """Initializes the bot.
-
-        Initializes the bot's DB and connects to Redis, and then prints a ready message to the
-        console.
+        """Runs when the bot has finished initializing.
         """
 
-        await setup.init()
-
-        await self.redis.ping()
-
         self.log.info("Ready! Logged in as %s.", self.user.display_name)
 
     async def on_shard_ready(self, shard_id: int) -> None:
diff --git a/run.py b/run.py
index aa4b84d..628773f 100644
--- a/run.py
+++ b/run.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ def shard(
           shut down soon.
     """
 
+    from payphone.db import setup
     from payphone.bot import bot
     from payphone.core import config
 
@@ -37,6 +38,13 @@ def shard(
     log.info("Running shard %s with default loop.", shard_id)
 
     bot.loop.set_debug(True)
+
+    async def initialize():
+        await setup.init()
+        await bot.redis.ping()
+
+    bot.loop.run_until_complete(initialize())
+
     bot.run(config.TOKEN)