diff --git a/app/config/config.yml b/app/config/config.yml
index a87666940..861884551 100644
--- a/app/config/config.yml
+++ b/app/config/config.yml
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ doctrine:
         password: "%database_password%"
         charset:  UTF8
         path:     "%database_path%"
+        server_version: 5.6
 
     orm:
         auto_generate_proxy_classes: "%kernel.debug%"
diff --git a/src/Wallabag/CoreBundle/Command/InstallCommand.php b/src/Wallabag/CoreBundle/Command/InstallCommand.php
index c5a5a519c..2e4a59dfd 100644
--- a/src/Wallabag/CoreBundle/Command/InstallCommand.php
+++ b/src/Wallabag/CoreBundle/Command/InstallCommand.php
@@ -455,7 +455,13 @@ class InstallCommand extends ContainerAwareCommand
             return false;
         }
 
-        return in_array($databaseName, $schemaManager->listDatabases());
+        try {
+            return in_array($databaseName, $schemaManager->listDatabases());
+        } catch (\Doctrine\DBAL\Exception\ConnectionException $e) {
+            // it means we weren't able to get database list, assume the database doesn't exist
+
+            return false;
+        }
     }
 
     /**