diff --git a/core/db.py b/core/db.py
index a54790d..74d01df 100644
--- a/core/db.py
+++ b/core/db.py
@@ -663,11 +663,10 @@ def _migrate(conn: sqlite3.Connection):
     # Fix orphaned dept_sub pipelines left in 'running' state due to double-create bug
     # (KIN-ARCH-012): before the fix, _execute_department_head_step created a pipeline
     # that was never updated, leaving ghost 'running' records in prod DB.
-    if "pipelines" in existing_tables:
-        conn.execute(
-            "UPDATE pipelines SET status = 'failed' WHERE route_type = 'dept_sub' AND status = 'running'"
-        )
-        conn.commit()
+    conn.execute(
+        "UPDATE pipelines SET status = 'failed' WHERE route_type = 'dept_sub' AND status = 'running'"
+    )
+    conn.commit()
 
 
 def _seed_default_hooks(conn: sqlite3.Connection):
diff --git a/tests/test_watchdog.py b/tests/test_watchdog.py
index cc7ec44..da5b2b9 100644
--- a/tests/test_watchdog.py
+++ b/tests/test_watchdog.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
-"""Tests for pipeline watchdog (KIN-099, KIN-OBS-015, KIN-OBS-019)."""
+"""Tests for pipeline watchdog (KIN-099, KIN-OBS-015)."""
 
 import errno
-import inspect
 import json
 import os
 import threading