diff --git a/hosting/docker-compose.test.yaml b/hosting/docker-compose.test.yaml
index dfd78621c5..f11d32fc3b 100644
--- a/hosting/docker-compose.test.yaml
+++ b/hosting/docker-compose.test.yaml
@@ -37,6 +37,19 @@ services:
       timeout: 20s
       retries: 3
 
+  couch-init:
+    image: curlimages/curl
+    environment:
+      PUT_CALL: "curl -u ${COUCH_DB_USER}:${COUCH_DB_PASSWORD} -X PUT couchdb-service:5984"
+    depends_on:
+      - couchdb-service
+    command:
+      [
+        "sh",
+        "-c",
+        "sleep 10 && $${PUT_CALL}/_users && $${PUT_CALL}/_replicator; fg;",
+      ]
+
   redis-service:
     restart: on-failure
     image: redis