diff --git a/go/libraries/doltcore/sqle/database.go b/go/libraries/doltcore/sqle/database.go
index ec77c754cf..81100075f0 100644
--- a/go/libraries/doltcore/sqle/database.go
+++ b/go/libraries/doltcore/sqle/database.go
@@ -1353,6 +1353,12 @@ func (db Database) GetEvents(ctx *sql.Context) (events []sql.EventDefinition, to
 
 // NeedsToReloadEvents implements sql.EventDatabase.
 func (db Database) NeedsToReloadEvents(ctx *sql.Context, token interface{}) (bool, error) {
+	// A nil token means no events in this db. If the dolt_schemas table doesn't exist, it will have a zero hash below 
+	// as well, meaning we don't reload events in that case. 
+	if token == nil {
+		token = hash.Hash{}
+	}
+	
 	hash, ok := token.(hash.Hash)
 	if !ok {
 		return false, fmt.Errorf("expected token to be hash.Hash, but received %T", token)
@@ -1362,7 +1368,7 @@ func (db Database) NeedsToReloadEvents(ctx *sql.Context, token interface{}) (boo
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
-
+	
 	// If the current hash doesn't match what we last loaded, then we
 	// need to reload event definitions
 	return !tableHash.Equal(hash), nil