diff --git a/scripts/generate.py b/scripts/generate.py
index 2ca6882..e9bed85 100644
--- a/scripts/generate.py
+++ b/scripts/generate.py
@@ -108,7 +108,13 @@ def load_all(top_dir_relative):
 def regen_all(src_top, dest_top, *, docs=None, db=None):
     files_generated = 0
     cur = db.cursor()
-    cur.execute('DELETE FROM note_search;')
+    cleaned_db = False
+
+    try:
+        cur.execute('DELETE FROM note_search;')
+        cleaned_db = True
+    except sqlite3.OperationalError as err:
+        logging.warn("Error pre-cleaning DB, search won't be updated")
 
     docs = load_all(src_top)
     doc_to_headline_remapping = {}