diff --git a/.github/workflows/db-migration-backwards-compatibility.yaml b/.github/workflows/db-migration-backwards-compatibility.yaml
index f627bd013..f665a2b85 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/db-migration-backwards-compatibility.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/db-migration-backwards-compatibility.yaml
@@ -195,7 +195,12 @@ jobs:
       - name: Start run-cron-jobs in background
         uses: JarvusInnovations/background-action@v1.0.7
         with:
-          run: pnpm -C apps/backend run run-cron-jobs --log-order=stream &
+          run: |
+            if [ -f apps/backend/scripts/run-cron-jobs.ts ]; then
+              pnpm -C apps/backend run with-env:dev tsx scripts/run-cron-jobs.ts --log-order=stream &
+            else
+              echo "scripts/run-cron-jobs.ts missing on this branch; skipping cron runner."
+            fi
           wait-on: |
             http://localhost:8102
           tail: true