diff --git a/apps/browser/src/background/main.background.ts b/apps/browser/src/background/main.background.ts
index a64ee2b8a0..6069e9b5e9 100644
--- a/apps/browser/src/background/main.background.ts
+++ b/apps/browser/src/background/main.background.ts
@@ -1095,7 +1095,8 @@ export default class MainBackground {
   async bootstrap() {
     this.containerService.attachToGlobal(self);
 
-    await this.stateService.init({ runMigrations: !this.isPrivateMode });
+    // Only the "true" background should run migrations
+    await this.stateService.init({ runMigrations: !this.popupOnlyContext });
 
     // This is here instead of in in the InitService b/c we don't plan for
     // side effects to run in the Browser InitService.
diff --git a/apps/browser/src/popup/services/init.service.ts b/apps/browser/src/popup/services/init.service.ts
index c9e6d66c2a..ee842565d7 100644
--- a/apps/browser/src/popup/services/init.service.ts
+++ b/apps/browser/src/popup/services/init.service.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ export class InitService {
 
   init() {
     return async () => {
-      await this.stateService.init();
+      await this.stateService.init({ runMigrations: false }); // Browser background is responsible for migrations
       await this.i18nService.init();
 
       if (!BrowserPopupUtils.inPopup(window)) {