diff --git a/core/_bootstrap.php b/core/_bootstrap.php
index fc3277ea..28f2a08b 100644
--- a/core/_bootstrap.php
+++ b/core/_bootstrap.php
@@ -77,4 +77,7 @@ _load_event_listeners();
 $_tracer->end();
 
 send_event(new InitExtEvent());
+if(AUTO_DB_UPGRADE) {
+	send_event(new DatabaseUpgradeEvent());
+}
 $_tracer->end();
diff --git a/core/event.php b/core/event.php
index 248bf6ae..37d60d57 100644
--- a/core/event.php
+++ b/core/event.php
@@ -316,3 +316,6 @@ class LogEvent extends Event
         $this->time = time();
     }
 }
+
+class DatabaseUpgradeEvent extends Event {
+}
diff --git a/core/sys_config.php b/core/sys_config.php
index 467877cd..e3c09793 100644
--- a/core/sys_config.php
+++ b/core/sys_config.php
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ _d("MIN_PHP_VERSION", '7.3');// string   minimum supported PHP version
 _d("TRACE_FILE", null);      // string   file to log performance data into
 _d("TRACE_THRESHOLD", 0.0);  // float    log pages which take more time than this many seconds
 _d("ENABLED_MODS", "imageboard");
+_d("AUTO_DB_UPGRADE", true); // bool     whether or not to automatically run DB schema updates
 
 /*
  * Calculated settings - you should never need to change these
diff --git a/ext/approval/main.php b/ext/approval/main.php
index f012b2e0..809b323b 100644
--- a/ext/approval/main.php
+++ b/ext/approval/main.php
@@ -15,10 +15,6 @@ class Approval extends Extension
 
         $config->set_default_bool(ApprovalConfig::IMAGES, false);
         $config->set_default_bool(ApprovalConfig::COMMENTS, false);
-
-        if ($config->get_int(ApprovalConfig::VERSION) < 1) {
-            $this->install();
-        }
     }
 
     public function onPageRequest(PageRequestEvent $event)
@@ -241,7 +237,7 @@ class Approval extends Extension
     }
 
 
-    private function install()
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $database, $config;
 
diff --git a/ext/artists/main.php b/ext/artists/main.php
index 2fbd3500..c4ea855b 100644
--- a/ext/artists/main.php
+++ b/ext/artists/main.php
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class Artists extends Extension
     }
 
 
-    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $config, $database;
 
diff --git a/ext/blocks/main.php b/ext/blocks/main.php
index ccfaf2f6..1641548e 100644
--- a/ext/blocks/main.php
+++ b/ext/blocks/main.php
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 class Blocks extends Extension
 {
-    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $config, $database;
         if ($config->get_int("ext_blocks_version") < 1) {
diff --git a/ext/blotter/main.php b/ext/blotter/main.php
index 3b4e98dc..ebc440c1 100644
--- a/ext/blotter/main.php
+++ b/ext/blotter/main.php
@@ -4,9 +4,14 @@ class Blotter extends Extension
 {
     public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
     {
-        /**
-         * I love re-using this installer don't I...
-         */
+        global $config;
+        $config->set_default_int("blotter_recent", 5);
+        $config->set_default_string("blotter_color", "FF0000");
+        $config->set_default_string("blotter_position", "subheading");
+    }
+
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
+    {
         global $config;
         $version = $config->get_int("blotter_version", 0);
         /**
@@ -33,10 +38,6 @@ class Blotter extends Extension
             log_info("blotter", "Installed tables for blotter extension.");
             $config->set_int("blotter_version", 1);
         }
-        // Set default config:
-        $config->set_default_int("blotter_recent", 5);
-        $config->set_default_string("blotter_color", "FF0000");
-        $config->set_default_string("blotter_position", "subheading");
     }
 
     public function onSetupBuilding(SetupBuildingEvent $event)
diff --git a/ext/comment/main.php b/ext/comment/main.php
index 8dca6983..e4f5365e 100644
--- a/ext/comment/main.php
+++ b/ext/comment/main.php
@@ -90,15 +90,18 @@ class CommentList extends Extension
     /** @var CommentListTheme $theme */
     public $theme;
 
-    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
-    {
-        global $config, $database;
+    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event) {
+        global $config;
         $config->set_default_int('comment_window', 5);
         $config->set_default_int('comment_limit', 10);
         $config->set_default_int('comment_list_count', 10);
         $config->set_default_int('comment_count', 5);
         $config->set_default_bool('comment_captcha', false);
+    }
 
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
+    {
+        global $config, $database;
         if ($config->get_int("ext_comments_version") < 3) {
             // shortcut to latest
             if ($config->get_int("ext_comments_version") < 1) {
diff --git a/ext/favorites/main.php b/ext/favorites/main.php
index 66200eaf..0b8b5b97 100644
--- a/ext/favorites/main.php
+++ b/ext/favorites/main.php
@@ -22,14 +22,6 @@ class FavoriteSetEvent extends Event
 
 class Favorites extends Extension
 {
-    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
-    {
-        global $config;
-        if ($config->get_int("ext_favorites_version", 0) < 1) {
-            $this->install();
-        }
-    }
-
     public function onImageAdminBlockBuilding(ImageAdminBlockBuildingEvent $event)
     {
         global $database, $user;
@@ -205,11 +197,10 @@ class Favorites extends Extension
         }
     }
 
-
-    private function install()
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
-        global $database;
         global $config;
+        global $database;
 
         if ($config->get_int("ext_favorites_version") < 1) {
             $database->Execute("ALTER TABLE images ADD COLUMN favorites INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0");
diff --git a/ext/forum/main.php b/ext/forum/main.php
index a1c5d410..06dfb7d0 100644
--- a/ext/forum/main.php
+++ b/ext/forum/main.php
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ Todo:
 */
 class Forum extends Extension
 {
-    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $config, $database;
 
diff --git a/ext/image_hash_ban/main.php b/ext/image_hash_ban/main.php
index 0617b503..e44882ae 100644
--- a/ext/image_hash_ban/main.php
+++ b/ext/image_hash_ban/main.php
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class AddImageHashBanEvent extends Event
 
 class ImageBan extends Extension
 {
-    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $config, $database;
         if ($config->get_int("ext_imageban_version") < 1) {
diff --git a/ext/image_view_counter/main.php b/ext/image_view_counter/main.php
index d5ebe8a5..091543ca 100644
--- a/ext/image_view_counter/main.php
+++ b/ext/image_view_counter/main.php
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class ImageViewCounter extends Extension
     }
 
     # Installs DB table
-    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $database, $config;
 
diff --git a/ext/ipban/main.php b/ext/ipban/main.php
index 9ebcca21..8837f46b 100644
--- a/ext/ipban/main.php
+++ b/ext/ipban/main.php
@@ -34,9 +34,6 @@ class IPBan extends Extension
     public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
     {
         global $config;
-        if ($config->get_int("ext_ipban_version") < 8) {
-            $this->install();
-        }
         $config->set_default_string(
             "ipban_message",
             '<p>IP <b>$IP</b> has been banned until <b>$DATE</b> by <b>$ADMIN</b> because of <b>$REASON</b>
@@ -128,7 +125,7 @@ class IPBan extends Extension
         }
     }
 
-    protected function install()
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $database;
         global $config;
diff --git a/ext/log_db/main.php b/ext/log_db/main.php
index c83b4dda..4e5e39d4 100644
--- a/ext/log_db/main.php
+++ b/ext/log_db/main.php
@@ -4,8 +4,12 @@ class LogDatabase extends Extension
 {
     public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
     {
-        global $database;
         global $config;
+        $config->set_default_int("log_db_priority", SCORE_LOG_INFO);
+    }
+
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event) {
+        global $config, $database;
 
         if ($config->get_int("ext_log_database_version") < 1) {
             $database->create_table("score_log", "
@@ -20,8 +24,6 @@ class LogDatabase extends Extension
             //INDEX(section)
             $config->set_int("ext_log_database_version", 1);
         }
-
-        $config->set_default_int("log_db_priority", SCORE_LOG_INFO);
     }
 
     public function onSetupBuilding(SetupBuildingEvent $event)
diff --git a/ext/media/main.php b/ext/media/main.php
index ea7c0d81..f434d27c 100644
--- a/ext/media/main.php
+++ b/ext/media/main.php
@@ -76,11 +76,6 @@ class Media extends Extension
         $config->set_default_int(MediaConfig::MEM_LIMIT, parse_shorthand_int('8MB'));
         $config->set_default_string(MediaConfig::FFMPEG_PATH, 'ffmpeg');
         $config->set_default_string(MediaConfig::CONVERT_PATH, 'convert');
-
-
-        if ($config->get_int(MediaConfig::VERSION) < 2) {
-            $this->setup();
-        }
     }
 
     public function onPageRequest(PageRequestEvent $event)
@@ -994,7 +989,7 @@ class Media extends Extension
         return $size;
     }
 
-    private function setup()
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $config, $database;
         if ($config->get_int(MediaConfig::VERSION) < 1) {
diff --git a/ext/not_a_tag/main.php b/ext/not_a_tag/main.php
index 83004f49..b142158c 100644
--- a/ext/not_a_tag/main.php
+++ b/ext/not_a_tag/main.php
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ class NotATag extends Extension
         return 30;
     } // before ImageUploadEvent and tag_history
 
-    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $config, $database;
         if ($config->get_int("ext_notatag_version") < 1) {
diff --git a/ext/notes/main.php b/ext/notes/main.php
index 9f4f9e72..a4a0c42b 100644
--- a/ext/notes/main.php
+++ b/ext/notes/main.php
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 class Notes extends Extension
 {
-    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $config, $database;
 
diff --git a/ext/numeric_score/main.php b/ext/numeric_score/main.php
index 5e6d0f22..6c4fd1bf 100644
--- a/ext/numeric_score/main.php
+++ b/ext/numeric_score/main.php
@@ -16,14 +16,6 @@ class NumericScoreSetEvent extends Event
 
 class NumericScore extends Extension
 {
-    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
-    {
-        global $config;
-        if ($config->get_int("ext_numeric_score_version", 0) < 1) {
-            $this->install();
-        }
-    }
-
     public function onDisplayingImage(DisplayingImageEvent $event)
     {
         global $user;
@@ -303,7 +295,7 @@ class NumericScore extends Extension
         }
     }
 
-    private function install()
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $database;
         global $config;
diff --git a/ext/pm/main.php b/ext/pm/main.php
index 400c9bc0..b0f53b19 100644
--- a/ext/pm/main.php
+++ b/ext/pm/main.php
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class PM
 
 class PrivMsg extends Extension
 {
-    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $config, $database;
 
diff --git a/ext/pools/main.php b/ext/pools/main.php
index 6205a8f2..b96be493 100644
--- a/ext/pools/main.php
+++ b/ext/pools/main.php
@@ -61,9 +61,8 @@ class PoolCreationEvent extends Event
 
 class Pools extends Extension
 {
-    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
-    {
-        global $config, $database;
+    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event) {
+        global $config;
 
         // Set the defaults for the pools extension
         $config->set_default_int(PoolsConfig::MAX_IMPORT_RESULTS, 1000);
@@ -74,6 +73,10 @@ class Pools extends Extension
         $config->set_default_bool(PoolsConfig::ADDER_ON_VIEW_IMAGE, false);
         $config->set_default_bool(PoolsConfig::SHOW_NAV_LINKS, false);
         $config->set_default_bool(PoolsConfig::AUTO_INCREMENT_ORDER, false);
+    }
+
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event) {
+        global $config, $database;
 
         // Create the database tables
         if ($config->get_int("ext_pools_version") < 1) {
diff --git a/ext/post_titles/main.php b/ext/post_titles/main.php
index b9eb167f..3c3cbebe 100644
--- a/ext/post_titles/main.php
+++ b/ext/post_titles/main.php
@@ -16,13 +16,9 @@ class PostTitles extends Extension
 
         $config->set_default_bool(PostTitlesConfig::DEFAULT_TO_FILENAME, false);
         $config->set_default_bool(PostTitlesConfig::SHOW_IN_WINDOW_TITLE, false);
-
-        if ($config->get_int(PostTitlesConfig::VERSION) < 1) {
-            $this->install();
-        }
     }
 
-    private function install()
+    private function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $config, $database;
 
diff --git a/ext/rating/main.php b/ext/rating/main.php
index c939b00b..f0a137c5 100644
--- a/ext/rating/main.php
+++ b/ext/rating/main.php
@@ -130,10 +130,6 @@ class Ratings extends Extension
     {
         global $config, $_shm_user_classes, $_shm_ratings;
 
-        if ($config->get_int(RatingsConfig::VERSION) < 4) {
-            $this->install();
-        }
-
         foreach (array_keys($_shm_user_classes) as $key) {
             if ($key == "base" || $key == "hellbanned") {
                 continue;
@@ -525,7 +521,7 @@ class Ratings extends Extension
         return true;
     }
 
-    private function install()
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $database, $config;
 
diff --git a/ext/relationships/main.php b/ext/relationships/main.php
index 3cdee74f..c211592f 100644
--- a/ext/relationships/main.php
+++ b/ext/relationships/main.php
@@ -18,8 +18,7 @@ class Relationships extends Extension
 {
     public const NAME = "Relationships";
 
-
-    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $config, $database;
 
diff --git a/ext/report_image/main.php b/ext/report_image/main.php
index 142ae465..179f7269 100644
--- a/ext/report_image/main.php
+++ b/ext/report_image/main.php
@@ -41,15 +41,6 @@ class ImageReport
 
 class ReportImage extends Extension
 {
-    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
-    {
-        global $config;
-
-        if ($config->get_int("ext_report_image_version") < 1) {
-            $this->install();
-        }
-    }
-
     public function onPageRequest(PageRequestEvent $event)
     {
         global $page, $user;
@@ -181,7 +172,7 @@ class ReportImage extends Extension
         $cache->delete("image-report-count");
     }
 
-    protected function install()
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $database, $config;
 
diff --git a/ext/source_history/main.php b/ext/source_history/main.php
index fc4b5f71..027522b5 100644
--- a/ext/source_history/main.php
+++ b/ext/source_history/main.php
@@ -12,11 +12,6 @@ class SourceHistory extends Extension
     {
         global $config;
         $config->set_default_int("history_limit", -1);
-
-        // shimmie is being installed so call install to create the table.
-        if ($config->get_int("ext_source_history_version") < 3) {
-            $this->install();
-        }
     }
 
     public function onAdminBuilding(AdminBuildingEvent $event)
@@ -95,7 +90,7 @@ class SourceHistory extends Extension
         }
     }
 
-    protected function install()
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $database, $config;
 
diff --git a/ext/tag_categories/main.php b/ext/tag_categories/main.php
index 54e90322..adbaf00c 100644
--- a/ext/tag_categories/main.php
+++ b/ext/tag_categories/main.php
@@ -5,13 +5,16 @@ require_once "config.php";
 
 class TagCategories extends Extension
 {
-    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
-    {
-        global $config, $database;
+    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event) {
+        global $config;
 
         // whether we split out separate categories on post view by default
         //  note: only takes effect if /post/view shows the image's exact tags
         $config->set_default_bool(TagCategoriesConfig::SPLIT_ON_VIEW, true);
+    }
+
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event) {
+        global $config, $database;
 
         if ($config->get_int(TagCategoriesConfig::VERSION) < 1) {
             // primary extension database, holds all our stuff!
diff --git a/ext/tag_history/main.php b/ext/tag_history/main.php
index ea243f2a..51c70af5 100644
--- a/ext/tag_history/main.php
+++ b/ext/tag_history/main.php
@@ -12,11 +12,6 @@ class TagHistory extends Extension
     {
         global $config;
         $config->set_default_int("history_limit", -1);
-
-        // shimmie is being installed so call install to create the table.
-        if ($config->get_int("ext_tag_history_version") < 3) {
-            $this->install();
-        }
     }
 
     public function onAdminBuilding(AdminBuildingEvent $event)
@@ -96,7 +91,7 @@ class TagHistory extends Extension
         }
     }
 
-    protected function install()
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $database, $config;
 
diff --git a/ext/tips/main.php b/ext/tips/main.php
index b5c0d7e7..c794bfa6 100644
--- a/ext/tips/main.php
+++ b/ext/tips/main.php
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 class Tips extends Extension
 {
-    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $config, $database;
 
diff --git a/ext/trash/main.php b/ext/trash/main.php
index d3772a68..5e292899 100644
--- a/ext/trash/main.php
+++ b/ext/trash/main.php
@@ -13,15 +13,6 @@ class Trash extends Extension
         return 10;
     }
 
-    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
-    {
-        global $config;
-
-        if ($config->get_int(TrashConfig::VERSION) < 1) {
-            $this->install();
-        }
-    }
-
     public function onPageRequest(PageRequestEvent $event)
     {
         global $page, $user;
@@ -158,8 +149,7 @@ class Trash extends Extension
         }
     }
 
-
-    private function install()
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $database, $config;
 
diff --git a/ext/upgrade/main.php b/ext/upgrade/main.php
index 0424f269..73a3b843 100644
--- a/ext/upgrade/main.php
+++ b/ext/upgrade/main.php
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 class Upgrade extends Extension
 {
-    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $config, $database;
 
diff --git a/ext/user_config/main.php b/ext/user_config/main.php
index 91aa375e..d5390d7b 100644
--- a/ext/user_config/main.php
+++ b/ext/user_config/main.php
@@ -22,15 +22,6 @@ class UserConfig extends Extension
 {
     private const VERSION = "ext_user_config_version";
 
-    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
-    {
-        global $config;
-
-        if ($config->get_int(self::VERSION, 0)<1) {
-            $this->install();
-        }
-    }
-
     public function onUserLogin(UserLoginEvent $event)
     {
         global $database, $user_config;
@@ -39,7 +30,7 @@ class UserConfig extends Extension
         send_event(new InitUserConfigEvent($event->user, $user_config));
     }
 
-    private function install(): void
+    private function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event): void
     {
         global $config, $database;
 
diff --git a/ext/wiki/main.php b/ext/wiki/main.php
index d52b3059..e9c490de 100644
--- a/ext/wiki/main.php
+++ b/ext/wiki/main.php
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class WikiPage
 
 class Wiki extends Extension
 {
-    public function onInitExt(InitExtEvent $event)
+    public function onDatabaseUpgrade(DatabaseUpgradeEvent $event)
     {
         global $database, $config;