diff --git a/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py b/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
index ffa5f1669..7d3afeb0f 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
@@ -307,9 +307,8 @@ async def user_api_key_auth(
             )
 
 
-def prisma_setup(database_url: Optional[str]):
+async def prisma_setup(database_url: Optional[str]):
     global prisma_client, proxy_logging_obj, user_api_key_cache
-
     if (
         database_url is not None and prisma_client is None
     ):  # don't re-initialize prisma client after initial init
@@ -321,6 +320,8 @@ def prisma_setup(database_url: Optional[str]):
             print_verbose(
                 f"Error when initializing prisma, Ensure you run pip install prisma {str(e)}"
             )
+    if prisma_client is not None and prisma_client.db.is_connected() == False:
+        await prisma_client.connect()
 
 
 def load_from_azure_key_vault(use_azure_key_vault: bool = False):
@@ -534,6 +535,7 @@ class ProxyConfig:
             prisma_client is not None
             and litellm.get_secret("SAVE_CONFIG_TO_DB", False) == True
         ):
+            await prisma_setup(database_url=None)  # in case it's not been connected yet
             _tasks = []
             keys = [
                 "model_list",
@@ -761,7 +763,7 @@ class ProxyConfig:
                 print_verbose(f"GOING INTO LITELLM.GET_SECRET!")
                 database_url = litellm.get_secret(database_url)
                 print_verbose(f"RETRIEVED DB URL: {database_url}")
-            prisma_setup(database_url=database_url)
+            await prisma_setup(database_url=database_url)
             ## COST TRACKING ##
             cost_tracking()
             ### MASTER KEY ###
@@ -930,7 +932,7 @@ def save_worker_config(**data):
     os.environ["WORKER_CONFIG"] = json.dumps(data)
 
 
-def initialize(
+async def initialize(
     model=None,
     alias=None,
     api_base=None,
@@ -948,13 +950,19 @@ def initialize(
     use_queue=False,
     config=None,
 ):
-    global user_model, user_api_base, user_debug, user_max_tokens, user_request_timeout, user_temperature, user_telemetry, user_headers, experimental, llm_model_list, llm_router, general_settings, master_key, user_custom_auth
+    global user_model, user_api_base, user_debug, user_max_tokens, user_request_timeout, user_temperature, user_telemetry, user_headers, experimental, llm_model_list, llm_router, general_settings, master_key, user_custom_auth, prisma_client
     generate_feedback_box()
     user_model = model
     user_debug = debug
     if debug == True:  # this needs to be first, so users can see Router init debugg
         litellm.set_verbose = True
     dynamic_config = {"general": {}, user_model: {}}
+    if config:
+        (
+            llm_router,
+            llm_model_list,
+            general_settings,
+        ) = await proxy_config.load_config(router=llm_router, config_file_path=config)
     if headers:  # model-specific param
         user_headers = headers
         dynamic_config[user_model]["headers"] = headers
@@ -1095,28 +1103,11 @@ async def startup_event():
     print_verbose(f"worker_config: {worker_config}")
     # check if it's a valid file path
     if os.path.isfile(worker_config):
-        if worker_config.get("config", None) is not None:
-            (
-                llm_router,
-                llm_model_list,
-                general_settings,
-            ) = await proxy_config.load_config(
-                router=llm_router, config_file_path=worker_config.pop("config")
-            )
-        initialize(**worker_config)
+        await initialize(**worker_config)
     else:
         # if not, assume it's a json string
         worker_config = json.loads(os.getenv("WORKER_CONFIG"))
-        if worker_config.get("config", None) is not None:
-            (
-                llm_router,
-                llm_model_list,
-                general_settings,
-            ) = await proxy_config.load_config(
-                router=llm_router, config_file_path=worker_config.pop("config")
-            )
-        initialize(**worker_config)
-
+        await initialize(**worker_config)
     proxy_logging_obj._init_litellm_callbacks()  # INITIALIZE LITELLM CALLBACKS ON SERVER STARTUP <- do this to catch any logging errors on startup, not when calls are being made
 
     if use_background_health_checks:
@@ -1124,10 +1115,6 @@ async def startup_event():
             _run_background_health_check()
         )  # start the background health check coroutine.
 
-    print_verbose(f"prisma client - {prisma_client}")
-    if prisma_client is not None:
-        await prisma_client.connect()
-
     if prisma_client is not None and master_key is not None:
         # add master key to db
         await generate_key_helper_fn(
@@ -1331,7 +1318,7 @@ async def chat_completion(
     user_api_key_dict: UserAPIKeyAuth = Depends(user_api_key_auth),
     background_tasks: BackgroundTasks = BackgroundTasks(),
 ):
-    global general_settings, user_debug, proxy_logging_obj
+    global general_settings, user_debug, proxy_logging_obj, llm_model_list
     try:
         data = {}
         body = await request.body()
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/utils.py b/litellm/proxy/utils.py
index 0be448119..3b90a2ad5 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/utils.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/utils.py
@@ -255,7 +255,6 @@ class PrismaClient:
         )
         ## init logging object
         self.proxy_logging_obj = proxy_logging_obj
-        self.connected = False
         os.environ["DATABASE_URL"] = database_url
         # Save the current working directory
         original_dir = os.getcwd()
@@ -536,11 +535,7 @@ class PrismaClient:
     )
     async def connect(self):
         try:
-            if self.connected == False:
-                await self.db.connect()
-                self.connected = True
-            else:
-                return
+            await self.db.connect()
         except Exception as e:
             asyncio.create_task(
                 self.proxy_logging_obj.failure_handler(original_exception=e)
@@ -558,7 +553,6 @@ class PrismaClient:
     async def disconnect(self):
         try:
             await self.db.disconnect()
-            self.connected = False
         except Exception as e:
             asyncio.create_task(
                 self.proxy_logging_obj.failure_handler(original_exception=e)
diff --git a/litellm/tests/test_proxy_custom_auth.py b/litellm/tests/test_proxy_custom_auth.py
index f16f1d379..ceb3d1c93 100644
--- a/litellm/tests/test_proxy_custom_auth.py
+++ b/litellm/tests/test_proxy_custom_auth.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import os, io
 sys.path.insert(
     0, os.path.abspath("../..")
 )  # Adds the parent directory to the system path
-import pytest
+import pytest, asyncio
 import litellm
 from litellm import embedding, completion, completion_cost, Timeout
 from litellm import RateLimitError
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from litellm.proxy.proxy_server import (
     router,
     save_worker_config,
     initialize,
+    ProxyConfig,
 )  # Replace with the actual module where your FastAPI router is defined
 
 
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ def client():
     config_fp = f"{filepath}/test_configs/test_config_custom_auth.yaml"
     # initialize can get run in parallel, it sets specific variables for the fast api app, sinc eit gets run in parallel different tests use the wrong variables
     app = FastAPI()
-    initialize(config=config_fp)
+    asyncio.run(initialize(config=config_fp))
 
     app.include_router(router)  # Include your router in the test app
     return TestClient(app)
diff --git a/litellm/tests/test_proxy_custom_logger.py b/litellm/tests/test_proxy_custom_logger.py
index f8828d137..e47351a9b 100644
--- a/litellm/tests/test_proxy_custom_logger.py
+++ b/litellm/tests/test_proxy_custom_logger.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ from litellm.proxy.proxy_server import (
     router,
     save_worker_config,
     initialize,
+    startup_event,
 )  # Replace with the actual module where your FastAPI router is defined
 
 filepath = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
@@ -39,8 +40,8 @@ python_file_path = f"{filepath}/test_configs/custom_callbacks.py"
 def client():
     filepath = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
     config_fp = f"{filepath}/test_configs/test_custom_logger.yaml"
-    initialize(config=config_fp)
     app = FastAPI()
+    asyncio.run(initialize(config=config_fp))
     app.include_router(router)  # Include your router in the test app
     return TestClient(app)
 
diff --git a/litellm/tests/test_proxy_exception_mapping.py b/litellm/tests/test_proxy_exception_mapping.py
index ff3b358a9..d5be29a61 100644
--- a/litellm/tests/test_proxy_exception_mapping.py
+++ b/litellm/tests/test_proxy_exception_mapping.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ from litellm.proxy.proxy_server import (
 def client():
     filepath = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
     config_fp = f"{filepath}/test_configs/test_bad_config.yaml"
-    initialize(config=config_fp)
+    asyncio.run(initialize(config=config_fp))
     app = FastAPI()
     app.include_router(router)  # Include your router in the test app
     return TestClient(app)
diff --git a/litellm/tests/test_proxy_pass_user_config.py b/litellm/tests/test_proxy_pass_user_config.py
index ea5f189c2..30fa1eeb1 100644
--- a/litellm/tests/test_proxy_pass_user_config.py
+++ b/litellm/tests/test_proxy_pass_user_config.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import os, io
 sys.path.insert(
     0, os.path.abspath("../..")
 )  # Adds the parent directory to the system path
-import pytest, logging
+import pytest, logging, asyncio
 import litellm
 from litellm import embedding, completion, completion_cost, Timeout
 from litellm import RateLimitError
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ def client_no_auth():
     filepath = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
     config_fp = f"{filepath}/test_configs/test_config_no_auth.yaml"
     # initialize can get run in parallel, it sets specific variables for the fast api app, sinc eit gets run in parallel different tests use the wrong variables
-    initialize(config=config_fp, debug=True)
+    asyncio.run(initialize(config=config_fp, debug=True))
     app = FastAPI()
     app.include_router(router)  # Include your router in the test app
 
diff --git a/litellm/tests/test_proxy_server.py b/litellm/tests/test_proxy_server.py
index b7b4b0c40..0fb8c742a 100644
--- a/litellm/tests/test_proxy_server.py
+++ b/litellm/tests/test_proxy_server.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import os, io
 sys.path.insert(
     0, os.path.abspath("../..")
 )  # Adds the parent directory to the system path
-import pytest, logging
+import pytest, logging, asyncio
 import litellm
 from litellm import embedding, completion, completion_cost, Timeout
 from litellm import RateLimitError
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def client_no_auth():
     filepath = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
     config_fp = f"{filepath}/test_configs/test_config_no_auth.yaml"
     # initialize can get run in parallel, it sets specific variables for the fast api app, sinc eit gets run in parallel different tests use the wrong variables
-    initialize(config=config_fp, debug=True)
+    asyncio.run(initialize(config=config_fp, debug=True))
     app = FastAPI()
     app.include_router(router)  # Include your router in the test app
 
diff --git a/litellm/tests/test_proxy_server_caching.py b/litellm/tests/test_proxy_server_caching.py
index cb8ca7609..a1935bd05 100644
--- a/litellm/tests/test_proxy_server_caching.py
+++ b/litellm/tests/test_proxy_server_caching.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import os, io
 sys.path.insert(
     0, os.path.abspath("../..")
 )  # Adds the parent directory to the system path
-import pytest, logging
+import pytest, logging, asyncio
 import litellm
 from litellm import embedding, completion, completion_cost, Timeout
 from litellm import RateLimitError
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def client_no_auth():
     filepath = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
     config_fp = f"{filepath}/test_configs/test_cloudflare_azure_with_cache_config.yaml"
     # initialize can get run in parallel, it sets specific variables for the fast api app, sinc eit gets run in parallel different tests use the wrong variables
-    initialize(config=config_fp, debug=True)
+    asyncio.run(initialize(config=config_fp, debug=True))
     app = FastAPI()
     app.include_router(router)  # Include your router in the test app