diff --git a/smile_upgrade/models/registry.py b/smile_upgrade/models/registry.py
index 464d19da7..502c98131 100644
--- a/smile_upgrade/models/registry.py
+++ b/smile_upgrade/models/registry.py
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@
 @classmethod
 def new(cls, db_name, force_demo=False, status=None, update_module=False):
     callers = [frame[3] for frame in inspect.stack()]
-    if 'preload_registries' not in callers and \
+    if tools.config.options.get('workers', False) and \
+            'preload_registries' not in callers and \
             '_initialize_db' not in callers:
         return native_new(db_name, force_demo, status, update_module)
     with cls._lock: