diff --git a/src/calibre/db/cache.py b/src/calibre/db/cache.py
index 42ad9002b7..ad3c6dc29c 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/cache.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/cache.py
@@ -542,6 +542,7 @@ class Cache:
         with self.write_lock:
             self.backend.reindex_fts()
             fts = self.initialize_fts()
+            fts.initialize(self.backend.conn)  # ensure fts is pre-initialized needed for the tests
             self._queue_next_fts_job()
         return fts