diff --git a/examples/mysql-persistent-template.json b/examples/mysql-persistent-template.json
index 96962404..e2c2216f 100644
--- a/examples/mysql-persistent-template.json
+++ b/examples/mysql-persistent-template.json
@@ -119,6 +119,62 @@
             }
           },
           "spec": {
+            "initContainers": [
+              {
+                "name": "mysql-init",
+                "image": " ",
+                "command": [ "/usr/bin/run-mysqld", "init" ],
+                "env": [
+                  {
+                    "name": "MYSQL_USER",
+                    "valueFrom": {
+                      "secretKeyRef" : {
+                        "name" : "${DATABASE_SERVICE_NAME}",
+                        "key" : "database-user"
+                      }
+                    }
+                  },
+                  {
+                    "name": "MYSQL_PASSWORD",
+                    "valueFrom": {
+                      "secretKeyRef" : {
+                        "name" : "${DATABASE_SERVICE_NAME}",
+                        "key" : "database-password"
+                      }
+                    }
+                  },
+                  {
+                    "name": "MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD",
+                    "valueFrom": {
+                      "secretKeyRef" : {
+                        "name" : "${DATABASE_SERVICE_NAME}",
+                        "key" : "database-root-password"
+                      }
+                    }
+                  },
+                  {
+                    "name": "MYSQL_DATABASE",
+                    "valueFrom": {
+                      "secretKeyRef" : {
+                        "name" : "${DATABASE_SERVICE_NAME}",
+                        "key" : "database-name"
+                      }
+                    }
+                  }
+                ],
+                "resources": {
+                  "limits": {
+                    "memory": "${MEMORY_LIMIT}"
+                  }
+                },
+                "volumeMounts": [
+                  {
+                    "name": "${DATABASE_SERVICE_NAME}-data",
+                    "mountPath": "/var/lib/mysql/data"
+                  }
+                ]
+              }
+            ],
             "containers": [
               {
                 "name": "mysql",
diff --git a/root-common/usr/bin/run-mysqld b/root-common/usr/bin/run-mysqld
index 36d5bf80..629da498 100755
--- a/root-common/usr/bin/run-mysqld
+++ b/root-common/usr/bin/run-mysqld
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
+init_only=false && [ "$1" == "init" ] && init_only=true && shift
+
 export_vars=$(cgroup-limits); export $export_vars
 source ${CONTAINER_SCRIPTS_PATH}/common.sh
 set -eu
@@ -20,6 +22,10 @@ else
   start_local_mysql "$@"
 fi
 
+if $init_only; then
+  exit 0
+fi
+
 # set mysql_flags and admin_flagsadmin_flags properly
 if [ -z "${MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD:-}" ] || is_allowing_connection_with_empty_password; then
   mysql_flags="-u root --socket=$MYSQL_LOCAL_SOCKET"