diff --git a/cmd/admin.go b/cmd/admin.go
index 3ddf8eddf..988a8d503 100644
--- a/cmd/admin.go
+++ b/cmd/admin.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	pwd "code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/password"
 	repo_module "code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/repository"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/setting"
+	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/storage"
 
 	"github.com/urfave/cli"
 )
@@ -489,6 +490,10 @@ func runDeleteUser(c *cli.Context) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if err := storage.Init(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	var err error
 	var user *models.User
 	if c.IsSet("email") {