diff --git a/scripts/init/init-aphlict.php b/scripts/init/init-aphlict.php
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/init/init-aphlict.php
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+<?php
+
+require_once dirname(__FILE__).'/lib.php';
+
+init_phabricator_script(
+  array(
+    // NOTE: We allow aphlict to start with no database, because it's
+    // reasonable to isolate the notification server from other hosts.
+    'config.optional' => true,
+  ));
diff --git a/support/aphlict/server/aphlict_launcher.php b/support/aphlict/server/aphlict_launcher.php
--- a/support/aphlict/server/aphlict_launcher.php
+++ b/support/aphlict/server/aphlict_launcher.php
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 <?php
 
 $root = dirname(dirname(dirname(dirname(__FILE__))));
-require_once $root.'/scripts/__init_script__.php';
+require_once $root.'/scripts/init/init-aphlict.php';
 
 PhabricatorAphlictManagementWorkflow::requireExtensions();