diff --git a/apps/server/AliasVault.Admin/Middleware/AntiforgeryTokenMiddleware.cs b/apps/server/AliasVault.Admin/Middleware/AntiforgeryTokenMiddleware.cs
index 87616f286..efeb3b0b4 100644
--- a/apps/server/AliasVault.Admin/Middleware/AntiforgeryTokenMiddleware.cs
+++ b/apps/server/AliasVault.Admin/Middleware/AntiforgeryTokenMiddleware.cs
@@ -73,12 +73,12 @@ public class AntiforgeryTokenMiddleware
                         protector.Unprotect(bytes);
                     }
                 }
-                catch (CryptographicException ex)
+                catch (CryptographicException)
                 {
-                    _logger.LogWarning(
-                        "Invalid antiforgery cookie detected (cannot decrypt). Clearing cookies and redirecting. Path: {Path}, Error: {Error}",
-                        context.Request.Path,
-                        ex.Message);
+                    // Expected after server restart with old cookies
+                    _logger.LogDebug(
+                        "Stale antiforgery cookie detected (key not in ring). Clearing cookies and redirecting. Path: {Path}",
+                        context.Request.Path);
 
                     ClearCookiesAndRedirect(context);
                     return;
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ public class AntiforgeryTokenMiddleware
                 catch (FormatException)
                 {
                     // Cookie value is not valid base64, clear it
-                    _logger.LogWarning(
+                    _logger.LogDebug(
                         "Invalid antiforgery cookie format detected. Clearing cookies and redirecting. Path: {Path}",
                         context.Request.Path);
 
@@ -95,10 +95,10 @@ public class AntiforgeryTokenMiddleware
                 }
                 catch (Exception ex)
                 {
-                    // Any other exception during decryption, clear cookies
+                    // Unexpected exception during decryption
                     _logger.LogWarning(
                         ex,
-                        "Error validating antiforgery cookie. Clearing cookies and redirecting. Path: {Path}",
+                        "Unexpected error validating antiforgery cookie. Clearing cookies and redirecting. Path: {Path}",
                         context.Request.Path);
 
                     ClearCookiesAndRedirect(context);
diff --git a/apps/server/Databases/AliasServerDb/Configuration/DatabaseConfiguration.cs b/apps/server/Databases/AliasServerDb/Configuration/DatabaseConfiguration.cs
index 3ca68d72f..7e1c81e1b 100644
--- a/apps/server/Databases/AliasServerDb/Configuration/DatabaseConfiguration.cs
+++ b/apps/server/Databases/AliasServerDb/Configuration/DatabaseConfiguration.cs
@@ -92,7 +92,41 @@ public static class DatabaseConfiguration
 
             try
             {
-                // Check if database is accessible and all migrations are applied
+                // First check if database is accessible
+                var canConnect = await context.Database.CanConnectAsync();
+                if (!canConnect)
+                {
+                    logger?.LogInformation(
+                        "Database not yet accessible. Attempt {Attempt}. Waiting {Interval}ms...",
+                        attempt,
+                        checkIntervalMs);
+                    await Task.Delay(checkIntervalMs);
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                // Check if migrations history table exists to avoid PostgreSQL logging errors
+                var connection = context.Database.GetDbConnection();
+                await using var command = connection.CreateCommand();
+                command.CommandText = "SELECT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM information_schema.tables WHERE table_name = '__EFMigrationsHistory')";
+
+                if (connection.State != System.Data.ConnectionState.Open)
+                {
+                    await connection.OpenAsync();
+                }
+
+                var tableExists = (bool)(await command.ExecuteScalarAsync() ?? false);
+
+                if (!tableExists)
+                {
+                    logger?.LogInformation(
+                        "Database accessible but migrations not yet started. Attempt {Attempt}. Waiting {Interval}ms...",
+                        attempt,
+                        checkIntervalMs);
+                    await Task.Delay(checkIntervalMs);
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                // Now safe to check pending migrations without PostgreSQL logging errors
                 var pendingMigrations = await context.Database.GetPendingMigrationsAsync();
                 if (!pendingMigrations.Any())
                 {
@@ -109,7 +143,7 @@ public static class DatabaseConfiguration
             {
                 logger?.LogWarning(
                     ex,
-                    "Database not yet accessible. Attempt {Attempt}. Waiting {Interval}ms before retry...",
+                    "Error checking database status. Attempt {Attempt}. Waiting {Interval}ms before retry...",
                     attempt,
                     checkIntervalMs);
             }