diff --git a/frigate/app.py b/frigate/app.py
index f31bd9828..db60be6eb 100644
--- a/frigate/app.py
+++ b/frigate/app.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import datetime
 import logging
 import multiprocessing as mp
 import os
@@ -167,6 +168,15 @@ class FrigateApp:
         self.timeline_queue: Queue = mp.Queue()
 
     def init_database(self) -> None:
+        def vacuum_db(db: SqliteExtDatabase) -> None:
+            db.execute_sql("VACUUM;")
+
+            try:
+                with open("/config/.vacuum", "w") as f:
+                    f.write(datetime.datetime.now().timestamp())
+            except PermissionError:
+                logger.error(f"Unable to write to /config to save DB state")
+
         # Migrate DB location
         old_db_path = DEFAULT_DB_PATH
         if not os.path.isfile(self.config.database.path) and os.path.isfile(
@@ -182,6 +192,24 @@ class FrigateApp:
         router = Router(migrate_db)
         router.run()
 
+        # check if vacuum needs to be run
+        if os.path.exists("/config/.vacuum"):
+            with open("/config/.vacuum") as f:
+                try:
+                    timestamp = int(f.readline())
+                except Exception:
+                    timestamp = 0
+
+                if (
+                    timestamp
+                    < (
+                        datetime.datetime.now() - datetime.timedelta(weeks=2)
+                    ).timestamp()
+                ):
+                    vacuum_db(migrate_db)
+        else:
+            vacuum_db(migrate_db)
+
         migrate_db.close()
 
     def init_go2rtc(self) -> None: