diff --git a/config/environment.rb b/config/environment.rb
index df68b36..5f7f2e0 100644
--- a/config/environment.rb
+++ b/config/environment.rb
@@ -64,7 +64,11 @@ Rails::Initializer.run do |config|
 
   # Activate observers that should always be running
   # config.active_record.observers = :cacher, :garbage_collector
-  config.active_record.observers = :article_sweeper
+
+  # don't load the sweepers while loading the database
+  unless $PROGRAM_NAME =~ /rake$/ && ARGV.first == 'db:schema:load'
+    config.active_record.observers = :article_sweeper
+  end
   # Make Active Record use UTC-base instead of local time
   # config.active_record.default_timezone = :utc
 
--
libgit2 0.21.2