diff --git a/backend/alembic/versions/f0e9d8c7b6a5_cascade_ondelete_all_env_fks.py b/backend/alembic/versions/f0e9d8c7b6a5_cascade_ondelete_all_env_fks.py
index aab44b85..205671bf 100644
--- a/backend/alembic/versions/f0e9d8c7b6a5_cascade_ondelete_all_env_fks.py
+++ b/backend/alembic/versions/f0e9d8c7b6a5_cascade_ondelete_all_env_fks.py
@@ -1,17 +1,28 @@
 """cascade ondelete for all remaining environments FK references
 
 Revision ID: f0e9d8c7b6a5
-Revises: e1f2a3b4c5d6, e5f4d3c2b1a
+Revises: a5b6c7d8e9f0, e5f4d3c2b1a
 Create Date: 2026-05-21 19:00:00.000000
 
+@RATIONALE The dataset_review_sessions table is created at runtime by
+  init_db() → Base.metadata.create_all(), not by any Alembic migration.
+  On a fresh database, it does not exist when Alembic runs (entrypoint
+  runs alembic upgrade head BEFORE the backend starts). The model already
+  defines the FK with ondelete='CASCADE', so on fresh databases the FK is
+  correct. This migration only needs to alter the FK on databases that
+  were upgraded from before the FK had CASCADE.
+
+  Guard: skip dataset_review_sessions FK if the table doesn't exist.
 """
 from collections.abc import Sequence
 
 from alembic import op
+from sqlalchemy import inspect
+
 
 # revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
 revision: str = 'f0e9d8c7b6a5'
-down_revision: str | Sequence[str] | None = ('e1f2a3b4c5d6', 'e5f4d3c2b1a')
+down_revision: str | Sequence[str] | None = ('a5b6c7d8e9f0', 'e5f4d3c2b1a')
 branch_labels: str | Sequence[str] | None = None
 depends_on: str | Sequence[str] | None = None
 
@@ -25,9 +36,18 @@ FK_DEFS = [
 ]
 
 
+def _table_exists(table: str) -> bool:
+    """Check if a table exists in the current database connection."""
+    conn = op.get_bind()
+    inspector = inspect(conn)
+    return inspector.has_table(table)
+
+
 def upgrade() -> None:
     """Upgrade schema."""
     for table, constraint_name, column in FK_DEFS:
+        if not _table_exists(table):
+            continue
         op.drop_constraint(constraint_name, table, type_='foreignkey')
         op.create_foreign_key(
             constraint_name,
@@ -42,6 +62,8 @@ def upgrade() -> None:
 def downgrade() -> None:
     """Downgrade schema."""
     for table, constraint_name, column in reversed(FK_DEFS):
+        if not _table_exists(table):
+            continue
         op.drop_constraint(constraint_name, table, type_='foreignkey')
         op.create_foreign_key(
             constraint_name,