diff --git a/templates/ovndbcluster/bin/cleanup.sh b/templates/ovndbcluster/bin/cleanup.sh
index bd3588eb..1004f5e5 100755
--- a/templates/ovndbcluster/bin/cleanup.sh
+++ b/templates/ovndbcluster/bin/cleanup.sh
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@
 # License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
 set -ex
+source $(dirname $0)/functions
 
 DB_NAME="OVN_Northbound"
-DB_TYPE="{{ .DB_TYPE }}"
 if [[ "${DB_TYPE}" == "sb" ]]; then
     DB_NAME="OVN_Southbound"
 fi
@@ -42,5 +42,5 @@ fi
 # leaving the database file intact for -0 pod.
 if [[ "$(hostname)" != "{{ .SERVICE_NAME }}-0" ]]; then
     # now that we left, the database file is no longer valid
-    rm -f /etc/ovn/ovn${DB_TYPE}_db.db
+    cleanup_db_file
 fi
diff --git a/templates/ovndbcluster/bin/functions b/templates/ovndbcluster/bin/functions
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..eb901a26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/ovndbcluster/bin/functions
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Copyright 2024 Red Hat Inc.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+# not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+# a copy of the License at
+#
+#      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+# WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+# License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+# under the License.
+
+DB_TYPE="{{ .DB_TYPE }}"
+DB_FILE=/etc/ovn/ovn${DB_TYPE}_db.db
+
+function cleanup_db_file() {
+    rm -f $DB_FILE
+}
diff --git a/templates/ovndbcluster/bin/setup.sh b/templates/ovndbcluster/bin/setup.sh
index 89d0b61c..1d79b445 100755
--- a/templates/ovndbcluster/bin/setup.sh
+++ b/templates/ovndbcluster/bin/setup.sh
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@
 # License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
 set -ex
-DB_TYPE="{{ .DB_TYPE }}"
+source $(dirname $0)/functions
+
 DB_PORT="{{ .DB_PORT }}"
 {{- if .TLS }}
 DB_SCHEME="pssl"
@@ -80,6 +81,12 @@ set "$@" --ovn-${DB_TYPE}-log=-vconsole:{{ .OVN_LOG_LEVEL }}
 # with a nearly empty log file
 set "$@" --ovn-${DB_TYPE}-logfile=/dev/null
 
+# If db file is empty, remove it; otherwise service won't start.
+# See https://issues.redhat.com/browse/FDP-689 for more details.
+if ! [ -s $DB_FILE ]; then
+    cleanup_db_file
+fi
+
 # don't log to file (we already log to console)
 $@ ${OPTS} run_${DB_TYPE}_ovsdb -- -vfile:off &