diff --git a/backend/migrations/util.py b/backend/migrations/util.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..401bb94d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/migrations/util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+from alembic import op
+from sqlalchemy import Inspector
+
+
+def get_existing_tables():
+    con = op.get_bind()
+    inspector = Inspector.from_engine(con)
+    tables = set(inspector.get_table_names())
+    return tables