diff --git a/devstack/lib/ironic b/devstack/lib/ironic
index 6fa6d8d05f..cfa1084cd5 100644
--- a/devstack/lib/ironic
+++ b/devstack/lib/ironic
@@ -841,12 +841,14 @@ function create_ironic_accounts {
 
 # init_ironic() - Initialize databases, etc.
 function init_ironic {
-    # (Re)create  ironic database
-    recreate_database ironic
 
-    # Migrate ironic database
-    $IRONIC_BIN_DIR/ironic-dbsync --config-file=$IRONIC_CONF_FILE
+    if [[ "$HOST_TOPOLOGY_ROLE" != "subnode" ]]; then
+        # (Re)create  ironic database
+        recreate_database ironic
 
+        # Migrate ironic database
+        $IRONIC_BIN_DIR/ironic-dbsync --config-file=$IRONIC_CONF_FILE
+    fi
     create_ironic_cache_dir
 }