diff --git a/server/Database.js b/server/Database.js
index 65c8d539c..50ff714ef 100644
--- a/server/Database.js
+++ b/server/Database.js
@@ -420,9 +420,21 @@ class Database {
    */
   async createRootUser(username, pash, auth) {
     if (!this.sequelize) return false
-    await this.userModel.createRootUser(username, pash, auth)
-    this.hasRootUser = true
-    return true
+    const transaction = await this.sequelize.transaction()
+    try {
+      const rootCount = await this.userModel.count({ where: { type: 'root' }, transaction })
+      if (rootCount > 0) {
+        await transaction.rollback()
+        return false
+      }
+      await this.userModel.createRootUser(username, pash, auth, transaction)
+      await transaction.commit()
+      this.hasRootUser = true
+      return true
+    } catch (error) {
+      await transaction.rollback()
+      throw error
+    }
   }
 
   updateServerSettings() {
diff --git a/server/Server.js b/server/Server.js
index 5fac001d8..65ecf8de8 100644
--- a/server/Server.js
+++ b/server/Server.js
@@ -472,7 +472,11 @@ class Server {
     const rootUsername = newRoot.username || 'root'
     const rootPash = newRoot.password ? await this.auth.localAuthStrategy.hashPassword(newRoot.password) : ''
     if (!rootPash) Logger.warn(`[Server] Creating root user with no password`)
-    await Database.createRootUser(rootUsername, rootPash, this.auth)
+    const created = await Database.createRootUser(rootUsername, rootPash, this.auth)
+    if (!created) {
+      Logger.error(`[Server] attempt to init server when server already has a root user`)
+      return res.sendStatus(500)
+    }
 
     res.sendStatus(200)
   }
diff --git a/server/models/User.js b/server/models/User.js
index 0b9d49438..9ad4772d5 100644
--- a/server/models/User.js
+++ b/server/models/User.js
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ class User extends Model {
    * @param {import('../Auth')} auth
    * @returns {Promise<User>}
    */
-  static async createRootUser(username, pash, auth) {
+  static async createRootUser(username, pash, auth, transaction = null) {
     const userId = uuidv4()
 
     const token = auth.generateAccessToken({ id: userId, username })
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ class User extends Model {
         seriesHideFromContinueListening: []
       }
     }
-    return this.create(newUser)
+    return this.create(newUser, { transaction })
   }
 
   /**