diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 899966e..45c1ca3 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -63,3 +63,6 @@ requirements/private.txt
 
 # Development task artifacts
 default.db
+
+.eggs/
+venv/
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/django_elastic_migrations/apps.py b/django_elastic_migrations/apps.py
index 31c36d7..86fde3b 100644
--- a/django_elastic_migrations/apps.py
+++ b/django_elastic_migrations/apps.py
@@ -18,4 +18,9 @@ class DjangoElasticMigrationsConfig(AppConfig):
     def ready(self):
         # avoid race condition with django app initialization
         from django_elastic_migrations.indexes import DEMIndexManager
-        DEMIndexManager.initialize(create_versions=True, activate_versions=True)
+        try:
+            DEMIndexManager.initialize(create_versions=True, activate_versions=True)
+        except ConnectionError as e:
+            return
+        except Exception as e:
+            raise e
diff --git a/django_elastic_migrations/management/commands/es_dangerous_reset.py b/django_elastic_migrations/management/commands/es_dangerous_reset.py
index 954361a..b53e354 100644
--- a/django_elastic_migrations/management/commands/es_dangerous_reset.py
+++ b/django_elastic_migrations/management/commands/es_dangerous_reset.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from django.core.management import call_command
 
 from django_elastic_migrations import DEMIndexManager
+from django_elastic_migrations import es_client
 from django_elastic_migrations.management.commands.es import ESCommand
 from django_elastic_migrations.models import Index
 from django_elastic_migrations.utils.django_elastic_migrations_log import get_logger
@@ -31,6 +32,9 @@ def add_arguments(self, parser):
     def handle(self, *args, **options):
         es_only = options.get('es_only')
 
+        if not es_client or not es_client.ping():
+            return
+
         if es_only:
             msg = "Dangerously resetting Elasticsearch indexes from database in ./manage.py es_dangerous_reset --es-only!"
             logger.warning(msg)