diff --git a/appview/database/migrations.go b/appview/database/migrations.go
index 45b94e2..b2ec5a8 100644
--- a/appview/database/migrations.go
+++ b/appview/database/migrations.go
@@ -29,12 +29,14 @@ func dropStaleColumns(db *gorm.DB) {
 	}
 
 	for _, d := range drops {
-		if db.Migrator().HasColumn(d.table, d.column) {
-			if err := db.Exec(fmt.Sprintf(`ALTER TABLE %q DROP COLUMN %q`, d.table, d.column)).Error; err != nil {
-				slog.Warn("drop column failed", "table", d.table, "column", d.column, "err", err)
-			} else {
-				slog.Info("dropped stale column", "table", d.table, "column", d.column)
-			}
+		// Use raw SQL to check — GORM's HasColumn applies its own naming convention
+		// which defeats the purpose of checking for the misnamed column.
+		sql := fmt.Sprintf(
+			`ALTER TABLE %q DROP COLUMN IF EXISTS %q`,
+			d.table, d.column,
+		)
+		if err := db.Exec(sql).Error; err != nil {
+			slog.Warn("drop column failed", "table", d.table, "column", d.column, "err", err)
 		}
 	}
 }