diff --git a/db_creation/update_db.py b/db_creation/update_db.py
index 50dc0e1..3627d22 100644
--- a/db_creation/update_db.py
+++ b/db_creation/update_db.py
@@ -13,10 +13,22 @@ DB_PASSWORD = os.getenv('DB_PASSWORD')
 
 
 def updater_1_0_0(connection: mysql.connection.MySQLConnection) -> str:
-    crsr = connection.cursor()
-    crsr.execute("ALTER TABLE `hfc_db`.`channels` DROP COLUMN IF EXISTS locations")
-    crsr.execute("ALTER TABLE `hfc_db`.`channels` ADD COLUMN `locations` JSON NOT NULL DEFAULT ('[]');")
-    crsr.close()
+    with connection.cursor() as crsr:
+        crsr.execute("SELECT COLUMN_NAME "
+                     "FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS "
+                     "WHERE TABLE_SCHEMA = 'hfc_db' "
+                     "AND TABLE_NAME = 'channels' "
+                     "AND COLUMN_NAME = 'locations';")
+
+        exists = (crsr.fetchone() is not None)
+
+        crsr.nextset()
+
+        if exists:
+            crsr.execute("ALTER TABLE `hfc_db`.`channels` DROP COLUMN `locations`;")
+
+        crsr.execute("ALTER TABLE `hfc_db`.`channels` ADD COLUMN `locations` JSON NOT NULL DEFAULT ('[]');")
+
     return '1.0.1'