diff --git a/archivebox/index/__init__.py b/archivebox/index/__init__.py
index bf1d0c6a..53ce3f26 100644
--- a/archivebox/index/__init__.py
+++ b/archivebox/index/__init__.py
@@ -243,12 +243,6 @@ def write_main_index(links: List[Link], out_dir: Path=OUTPUT_DIR) -> None:
 
     log_indexing_process_finished()
 
-@enforce_types
-def get_empty_snapshot_queryset(out_dir: Path=OUTPUT_DIR):
-    setup_django(out_dir, check_db=True)
-    from core.models import Snapshot
-    return Snapshot.objects.none()
-
 @enforce_types
 def load_main_index(out_dir: Path=OUTPUT_DIR, warn: bool=True) -> List[Link]:
     """parse and load existing index with any new links from import_path merged in"""
@@ -390,8 +384,9 @@ def search_filter(snapshots: QuerySet, filter_patterns: List[str], filter_type:
                 color='red',
             )
         raise SystemExit(2)
+    from core.models import Snapshot
 
-    qsearch = get_empty_snapshot_queryset()
+    qsearch = Snapshot.objects.none()
     for pattern in filter_patterns:
         try:
             qsearch |= query_search_index(pattern)
diff --git a/archivebox/main.py b/archivebox/main.py
index 756fecde..eb8cd6a0 100644
--- a/archivebox/main.py
+++ b/archivebox/main.py
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ from .util import enforce_types                         # type: ignore
 from .system import get_dir_size, dedupe_cron_jobs, CRON_COMMENT
 from .index import (
     load_main_index,
-    get_empty_snapshot_queryset,
     parse_links_from_source,
     dedupe_links,
     write_main_index,
@@ -265,6 +264,7 @@ def run(subcommand: str,
 @enforce_types
 def init(force: bool=False, out_dir: Path=OUTPUT_DIR) -> None:
     """Initialize a new ArchiveBox collection in the current directory"""
+    from core.models import Snapshot
     Path(out_dir).mkdir(exist_ok=True)
     is_empty = not len(set(os.listdir(out_dir)) - ALLOWED_IN_OUTPUT_DIR)
 
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ def init(force: bool=False, out_dir: Path=OUTPUT_DIR) -> None:
     print()
     print('{green}[*] Collecting links from any existing indexes and archive folders...{reset}'.format(**ANSI))
 
-    all_links = get_empty_snapshot_queryset()
+    all_links = Snapshot.objects.none()
     pending_links: Dict[str, Link] = {}
 
     if existing_index: