diff --git a/pkg/ironic/containers.go b/pkg/ironic/containers.go
index ad84653..4fe1a35 100644
--- a/pkg/ironic/containers.go
+++ b/pkg/ironic/containers.go
@@ -523,6 +523,13 @@ func newIronicPodTemplate(cctx ControllerContext, ironic *metal3api.Ironic, db *
 			Ports:          ironicPorts,
 			LivenessProbe:  newProbe(ironicHandler),
 			ReadinessProbe: newProbe(ironicHandler),
+			Lifecycle: &corev1.Lifecycle{
+				PostStart: &corev1.LifecycleHandler{
+					Exec: &corev1.ExecAction{
+						Command: []string{"ironic-dbsync", "--config-file", "/etc/ironic/ironic.conf", "online_data_migrations"},
+					},
+				},
+			},
 		},
 		{
 			Name:         "httpd",
diff --git a/pkg/ironic/utils.go b/pkg/ironic/utils.go
index e22c74e..da0cc6d 100644
--- a/pkg/ironic/utils.go
+++ b/pkg/ironic/utils.go
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ func mergeContainers(target, source []corev1.Container) []corev1.Container {
 		} else {
 			dest.ReadinessProbe = nil
 		}
+		dest.Lifecycle = src.Lifecycle
 	}
 
 	return target