diff --git a/backend/src/data/db.ts b/backend/src/data/db.ts
index 30383b14..c0bac652 100644
--- a/backend/src/data/db.ts
+++ b/backend/src/data/db.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ export function connect() {
     connectionPromise = createConnection().then(newConnection => {
       // Verify the DB timezone is set to UTC
       return newConnection.query("SELECT TIMEDIFF(NOW(), UTC_TIMESTAMP) AS tz").then(r => {
-        if (r[0].tz !== "00:00:00") {
+        if (r[0].tz !== "00:00:00" || true) {
           throw new SimpleError(`Database timezone must be UTC (detected ${r[0].tz})`);
         }