diff --git a/e2e-tests/package.json b/e2e-tests/package.json
index c684a11..82b270f 100644
--- a/e2e-tests/package.json
+++ b/e2e-tests/package.json
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   },
   "scripts": {
     "ci:e2e:start": "npm run ci:e2e:cleanup-db && node ci-start-app-and-db.js",
-    "ci:e2e:start-db": "cd ../ && wasp start db",
+    "ci:e2e:start-db": "cd ../app && ( [ -f main.wasp.ts ] && npm install -g typescript && wasp ts-setup || true ) && wasp start db",
     "ci:e2e:start-app": "npm run ci:e2e:wait-for-db && cd ../ && wasp db migrate-dev && wasp start",
     "ci:e2e:wait-for-db": "npx wait-port 5432",
     "_comment-on-ci:e2e:cleanup-db": "NOTE: the name of the DB container, e.g. name=^wasp-dev-db-e2eTestExample-, is generated by wasp and will match the name of the app definition in your `main.wasp` file, e.g. `app e2eTestExample { }`",