diff --git a/.gitpod.yml b/.gitpod.yml
index a184e6376..506c62045 100644
--- a/.gitpod.yml
+++ b/.gitpod.yml
@@ -10,9 +10,12 @@ tasks:
   - name: Run backend
     command: |
       gp sync-await setup
-      mkdir -p custom/conf/
-      echo -e "[server]\nROOT_URL=$(gp url 3000)/" > custom/conf/app.ini
-      echo -e "\n[database]\nDB_TYPE = sqlite3\nPATH = $GITPOD_REPO_ROOT/data/gitea.db" >> custom/conf/app.ini
+      if [ ! -f custom/conf/app.ini ]
+      then
+        mkdir -p custom/conf/
+        echo -e "[server]\nROOT_URL=$(gp url 3000)/" > custom/conf/app.ini
+        echo -e "\n[database]\nDB_TYPE = sqlite3\nPATH = $GITPOD_REPO_ROOT/data/gitea.db" >> custom/conf/app.ini
+      fi
       export TAGS="sqlite sqlite_unlock_notify"
       make watch-backend
   - name: Run frontend