diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index e742181..d6d762c 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
       "version": "0.5.0",
       "license": "Apache-2.0",
       "dependencies": {
-        "@electric-sql/pglite": "^0.3.0",
+        "@electric-sql/pglite": "^0.5.4",
         "drizzle-orm": "^0.45.2",
         "exceljs": "^4.4.0",
         "next": "^15.5.4",
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@electric-sql/pglite": {
-      "version": "0.3.16",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@electric-sql/pglite/-/pglite-0.3.16.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-mZkZfOd9OqTMHsK+1cje8OSzfAQcpD7JmILXTl5ahdempjUDdmg4euf1biDex5/LfQIDJ3gvCu6qDgdnDxfJmA==",
+      "version": "0.5.4",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@electric-sql/pglite/-/pglite-0.5.4.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-yYZUyyXrHU7tPlCjwZQJ6hIG9DscdCCn7Uk0mYKwC1FeHX286AbcmFveMiRBEak8e9iPupjsoVImN3yJZVed2g==",
       "license": "Apache-2.0"
     },
     "node_modules/@emnapi/runtime": {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index d5c3ef3..3ef4866 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
   "version": "0.5.0",
   "private": true,
   "license": "Apache-2.0",
-  "description": "CAP Trellis \u2014 open-source client intake, eligibility, case & service management, and CSBG Annual Report 3.0 (OMB 0970-0492) reporting for Community Action Agencies",
+  "description": "CAP Trellis — open-source client intake, eligibility, case & service management, and CSBG Annual Report 3.0 (OMB 0970-0492) reporting for Community Action Agencies",
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
     "url": "https://github.com/dchevalier18/csbg-intake.git"
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
     "uuid": "^11.1.1"
   },
   "dependencies": {
-    "@electric-sql/pglite": "^0.3.0",
+    "@electric-sql/pglite": "^0.5.4",
     "drizzle-orm": "^0.45.2",
     "exceljs": "^4.4.0",
     "next": "^15.5.4",
diff --git a/src/db/index.ts b/src/db/index.ts
index cce2163..5efe96a 100644
--- a/src/db/index.ts
+++ b/src/db/index.ts
@@ -131,7 +131,20 @@ function createPgliteConn(): Conn {
   // PGlite's own mkdir is NOT recursive — a nested data dir (./data/pglite)
   // fails with ENOENT unless the parents exist. Create the full path first.
   if (dir && dir !== "memory") {
-    fs.mkdirSync(path.resolve(dir), { recursive: true });
+    const abs = path.resolve(dir);
+    fs.mkdirSync(abs, { recursive: true });
+    // A data dir a crashed instance left PARTIALLY initialized (e.g. killed
+    // mid-initdb) aborts every later open. A healthy PGlite dir always has a
+    // PG_VERSION file — quarantine anything non-empty without one (moved
+    // aside, never deleted) so the engine can initialize fresh.
+    const entries = fs.readdirSync(abs);
+    const healthy = entries.includes("PG_VERSION") && entries.includes("postgresql.conf");
+    if (entries.length > 0 && !healthy) {
+      const quarantine = `${abs}.corrupt-${new Date().toISOString().replace(/[:.]/g, "-")}`;
+      fs.renameSync(abs, quarantine);
+      fs.mkdirSync(abs, { recursive: true });
+      console.warn(`[db] embedded data dir was partially initialized — moved to ${quarantine} and starting fresh`);
+    }
   }
   // single in-process engine — no advisory lock needed (or available across processes);
   // embedded mode is for one local server, never for multi-process deployments