diff --git a/bin/vmail.sh b/bin/vmail.sh
index abcad67..1ce089b 100755
--- a/bin/vmail.sh
+++ b/bin/vmail.sh
@@ -30,24 +30,29 @@ else
   fi
 fi
 
-# check that MYSQL_CONNECTION_INFO_FILE exists and is readable
-if [ ! -f "$MYSQL_CONNECTION_INFO_FILE" ]; then
-  echo "ERROR: MySQL connection info file ($MYSQL_CONNECTION_INFO_FILE) does not exist or is not readable."
-  exit 1
-fi
+# Only Debian-exim commands do not require MySQL running, (almost) all others do:
+if [[ "$USER" != "Debian-exim" ]]; then
 
-# check that MySQL is running
-if ! systemctl --quiet is-active mariadb.service
-then
-  echo "MySQL (MariaDB) is not running."
-  exit 1
-fi
+  # check that MYSQL_CONNECTION_INFO_FILE exists and is readable
+  if [ ! -f "$MYSQL_CONNECTION_INFO_FILE" ]; then
+    echo "ERROR: MySQL connection info file ($MYSQL_CONNECTION_INFO_FILE) does not exist or is not readable."
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  # check that MySQL is running
+  if ! systemctl --quiet is-active mariadb.service
+  then
+    echo "MySQL (MariaDB) is not running."
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  # check vmail MySQL connection/authentication
+  if ! mysql --defaults-extra-file=$MYSQL_CONNECTION_INFO_FILE -e '\q'
+  then
+    echo "MySQL connection failed. Check auth info in $MYSQL_CONNECTION_INFO_FILE"
+    exit 1
+  fi
 
-# check vmail MySQL connection/authentication
-if ! mysql --defaults-extra-file=$MYSQL_CONNECTION_INFO_FILE -e '\q'
-then
-  echo "MySQL connection failed. Check auth info in $MYSQL_CONNECTION_INFO_FILE"
-  exit 1
 fi
 
 # functions