diff --git a/edb/server/net_worker.py b/edb/server/net_worker.py
index 4b4780c916d..3bc1ac3a19e 100644
--- a/edb/server/net_worker.py
+++ b/edb/server/net_worker.py
@@ -65,6 +65,11 @@ async def _http(tenant: edbtenant.Tenant) -> None:
         ):
             for db in tenant.iter_dbs():
                 if db.name == defines.EDGEDB_SYSTEM_DB:
+                    # Don't run the net_worker for system database
+                    continue
+                if not tenant.is_database_connectable(db.name):
+                    # Don't run the net_worker if the database is not
+                    # connectable, e.g. being dropped
                     continue
                 json_bytes = await execute.parse_execute_json(
                     db,