diff --git a/lib/srv/db/access_test.go b/lib/srv/db/access_test.go
index b55446d54d5..a16caaace8d 100644
--- a/lib/srv/db/access_test.go
+++ b/lib/srv/db/access_test.go
@@ -82,6 +82,9 @@ import (
 func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 	utils.InitLoggerForTests()
 	native.PrecomputeTestKeys(m)
+	registerTestSnowflakeEngine()
+	registerTestElasticsearchEngine()
+	registerTestSQLServerEngine()
 	os.Exit(m.Run())
 }
 
@@ -599,7 +602,7 @@ func TestGCPRequireSSL(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 }
 
-func init() {
+func registerTestSQLServerEngine() {
 	// Override SQL Server engine that is used normally with the test one
 	// that mocks connection dial and Kerberos auth.
 	common.RegisterEngine(newTestSQLServerEngine, defaults.ProtocolSQLServer)
diff --git a/lib/srv/db/cassandra/engine.go b/lib/srv/db/cassandra/engine.go
index 5a5ba18eec6..81b1381e54e 100644
--- a/lib/srv/db/cassandra/engine.go
+++ b/lib/srv/db/cassandra/engine.go
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/gravitational/trace"
 
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/api/types/events"
-	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/defaults"
 	libevents "github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/events"
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/cassandra/protocol"
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/common"
@@ -37,12 +36,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/utils"
 )
 
-func init() {
-	common.RegisterEngine(newEngine, defaults.ProtocolCassandra)
-}
-
-// newEngine create new Cassandra engine.
-func newEngine(ec common.EngineConfig) common.Engine {
+// NewEngine create new Cassandra engine.
+func NewEngine(ec common.EngineConfig) common.Engine {
 	return &Engine{
 		EngineConfig: ec,
 	}
diff --git a/lib/srv/db/common/engines.go b/lib/srv/db/common/engines.go
index 30d63d4a323..f363c00fc1b 100644
--- a/lib/srv/db/common/engines.go
+++ b/lib/srv/db/common/engines.go
@@ -64,6 +64,18 @@ func GetEngine(name string, conf EngineConfig) (Engine, error) {
 	return engineFn(conf), nil
 }
 
+// CheckEngines checks if provided engine names are registered.
+func CheckEngines(names ...string) error {
+	enginesMu.RLock()
+	defer enginesMu.RUnlock()
+	for _, name := range names {
+		if engines[name] == nil {
+			return trace.NotFound("database engine %q is not registered", name)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // EngineConfig is the common configuration every database engine uses.
 type EngineConfig struct {
 	// Auth handles database access authentication.
diff --git a/lib/srv/db/common/engines_test.go b/lib/srv/db/common/engines_test.go
index 091866226cc..033cead41ef 100644
--- a/lib/srv/db/common/engines_test.go
+++ b/lib/srv/db/common/engines_test.go
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ import (
 func TestRegisterEngine(t *testing.T) {
 	// Cleanup "test" engine in case this test is run in a loop.
 	RegisterEngine(nil, "test")
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		RegisterEngine(nil, "test")
+	})
 
 	ec := EngineConfig{
 		Context:      context.Background(),
@@ -48,6 +51,7 @@ func TestRegisterEngine(t *testing.T) {
 	engine, err := GetEngine("test", ec)
 	require.Nil(t, engine)
 	require.IsType(t, trace.NotFound(""), err)
+	require.IsType(t, trace.NotFound(""), CheckEngines("test"))
 
 	// Register a "test" engine.
 	RegisterEngine(func(ec EngineConfig) Engine {
diff --git a/lib/srv/db/elasticsearch/engine.go b/lib/srv/db/elasticsearch/engine.go
index 380d6579242..f8ea271d99b 100644
--- a/lib/srv/db/elasticsearch/engine.go
+++ b/lib/srv/db/elasticsearch/engine.go
@@ -36,19 +36,14 @@ import (
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport"
 	apievents "github.com/gravitational/teleport/api/types/events"
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/api/types/wrappers"
-	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/defaults"
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/events"
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/common"
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/common/role"
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/utils"
 )
 
-func init() {
-	common.RegisterEngine(newEngine, defaults.ProtocolElasticsearch)
-}
-
-// newEngine create new elasticsearch engine.
-func newEngine(ec common.EngineConfig) common.Engine {
+// NewEngine create new elasticsearch engine.
+func NewEngine(ec common.EngineConfig) common.Engine {
 	return &Engine{EngineConfig: ec}
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/srv/db/elasticsearch_test.go b/lib/srv/db/elasticsearch_test.go
index 76266e6ade8..f8330b6eb39 100644
--- a/lib/srv/db/elasticsearch_test.go
+++ b/lib/srv/db/elasticsearch_test.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/elasticsearch"
 )
 
-func init() {
+func registerTestElasticsearchEngine() {
 	// Override Elasticsearch engine that is used normally with the test one
 	// with custom HTTP client.
 	common.RegisterEngine(newTestElasticsearchEngine, defaults.ProtocolElasticsearch)
diff --git a/lib/srv/db/mongodb/engine.go b/lib/srv/db/mongodb/engine.go
index 929fc9c7eda..12603eb797a 100644
--- a/lib/srv/db/mongodb/engine.go
+++ b/lib/srv/db/mongodb/engine.go
@@ -31,11 +31,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/utils"
 )
 
-func init() {
-	common.RegisterEngine(newEngine, defaults.ProtocolMongoDB)
-}
-
-func newEngine(ec common.EngineConfig) common.Engine {
+// NewEngine create new MongoDB engine.
+func NewEngine(ec common.EngineConfig) common.Engine {
 	return &Engine{
 		EngineConfig: ec,
 	}
diff --git a/lib/srv/db/mysql/engine.go b/lib/srv/db/mysql/engine.go
index b02b87864e4..b7520f2474e 100644
--- a/lib/srv/db/mysql/engine.go
+++ b/lib/srv/db/mysql/engine.go
@@ -41,11 +41,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/utils"
 )
 
-func init() {
-	common.RegisterEngine(newEngine, defaults.ProtocolMySQL)
-}
-
-func newEngine(ec common.EngineConfig) common.Engine {
+// NewEngine create new MySQL engine.
+func NewEngine(ec common.EngineConfig) common.Engine {
 	return &Engine{
 		EngineConfig: ec,
 	}
diff --git a/lib/srv/db/postgres/engine.go b/lib/srv/db/postgres/engine.go
index 87b215deb82..f60d618062a 100644
--- a/lib/srv/db/postgres/engine.go
+++ b/lib/srv/db/postgres/engine.go
@@ -28,20 +28,14 @@ import (
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/api/types"
-	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/defaults"
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/cloud"
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/common"
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/common/role"
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/utils"
 )
 
-func init() {
-	common.RegisterEngine(newEngine,
-		defaults.ProtocolPostgres,
-		defaults.ProtocolCockroachDB)
-}
-
-func newEngine(ec common.EngineConfig) common.Engine {
+// NewEngine create new Postgres engine.
+func NewEngine(ec common.EngineConfig) common.Engine {
 	return &Engine{
 		EngineConfig: ec,
 	}
diff --git a/lib/srv/db/redis/engine.go b/lib/srv/db/redis/engine.go
index 513fad32b89..1fdae35fb9f 100644
--- a/lib/srv/db/redis/engine.go
+++ b/lib/srv/db/redis/engine.go
@@ -37,12 +37,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/utils"
 )
 
-func init() {
-	common.RegisterEngine(newEngine, defaults.ProtocolRedis)
-}
-
-// newEngine create new Redis engine.
-func newEngine(ec common.EngineConfig) common.Engine {
+// NewEngine create new Redis engine.
+func NewEngine(ec common.EngineConfig) common.Engine {
 	return &Engine{
 		EngineConfig: ec,
 	}
diff --git a/lib/srv/db/server.go b/lib/srv/db/server.go
index 38f000c50bc..6d0f3365aaa 100644
--- a/lib/srv/db/server.go
+++ b/lib/srv/db/server.go
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ limitations under the License.
 
 package db
 
-//nolint:goimports // goimports disagree with gci on blank imports
 import (
 	"context"
 	"crypto/tls"
@@ -42,25 +41,31 @@ import (
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/reversetunnel"
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/services"
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv"
-	// Import to register Cassandra engine.
-	_ "github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/cassandra"
+	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/cassandra"
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/cloud"
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/cloud/users"
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/common"
-	// Import to register Elasticsearch engine.
-	_ "github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/elasticsearch"
-	// Import to register MongoDB engine.
-	_ "github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/mongodb"
+	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/elasticsearch"
+	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/mongodb"
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/mysql"
-	// Import to register Postgres engine.
-	_ "github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/postgres"
-	// Import to register Redis engine.
-	_ "github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/redis"
-	// Import to register Snowflake engine.
-	_ "github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/snowflake"
+	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/postgres"
+	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/redis"
+	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/snowflake"
+	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/sqlserver"
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/utils"
 )
 
+func init() {
+	common.RegisterEngine(cassandra.NewEngine, defaults.ProtocolCassandra)
+	common.RegisterEngine(elasticsearch.NewEngine, defaults.ProtocolElasticsearch)
+	common.RegisterEngine(mongodb.NewEngine, defaults.ProtocolMongoDB)
+	common.RegisterEngine(mysql.NewEngine, defaults.ProtocolMySQL)
+	common.RegisterEngine(postgres.NewEngine, defaults.ProtocolPostgres, defaults.ProtocolCockroachDB)
+	common.RegisterEngine(redis.NewEngine, defaults.ProtocolRedis)
+	common.RegisterEngine(snowflake.NewEngine, defaults.ProtocolSnowflake)
+	common.RegisterEngine(sqlserver.NewEngine, defaults.ProtocolSQLServer)
+}
+
 // Config is the configuration for a database proxy server.
 type Config struct {
 	// Clock used to control time.
@@ -292,6 +297,10 @@ func (m *monitoredDatabases) get() types.ResourcesWithLabelsMap {
 
 // New returns a new database server.
 func New(ctx context.Context, config Config) (*Server, error) {
+	if err := common.CheckEngines(defaults.DatabaseProtocols...); err != nil {
+		return nil, trace.Wrap(err)
+	}
+
 	err := config.CheckAndSetDefaults(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, trace.Wrap(err)
diff --git a/lib/srv/db/snowflake/engine.go b/lib/srv/db/snowflake/engine.go
index 2c42f39b568..e18caccfbbb 100644
--- a/lib/srv/db/snowflake/engine.go
+++ b/lib/srv/db/snowflake/engine.go
@@ -44,12 +44,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/utils"
 )
 
-func init() {
-	common.RegisterEngine(newEngine, defaults.ProtocolSnowflake)
-}
-
-// newEngine create new Snowflake engine.
-func newEngine(ec common.EngineConfig) common.Engine {
+// NewEngine create new Snowflake engine.
+func NewEngine(ec common.EngineConfig) common.Engine {
 	return &Engine{
 		EngineConfig: ec,
 		HTTPClient:   getDefaultHTTPClient(),
diff --git a/lib/srv/db/snowflake_test.go b/lib/srv/db/snowflake_test.go
index 981f596439d..94d87976b1e 100644
--- a/lib/srv/db/snowflake_test.go
+++ b/lib/srv/db/snowflake_test.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/snowflake"
 )
 
-func init() {
+func registerTestSnowflakeEngine() {
 	// Override Snowflake engine that is used normally with the test one
 	// with custom HTTP client.
 	common.RegisterEngine(newTestSnowflakeEngine, defaults.ProtocolSnowflake)
diff --git a/lib/srv/db/sqlserver/engine.go b/lib/srv/db/sqlserver/engine.go
index 873094e4887..655e480b669 100644
--- a/lib/srv/db/sqlserver/engine.go
+++ b/lib/srv/db/sqlserver/engine.go
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/gravitational/trace"
 
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/api/types/events"
-	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/defaults"
 	libevents "github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/events"
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/services"
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/srv/db/common"
@@ -32,11 +31,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/gravitational/teleport/lib/utils"
 )
 
-func init() {
-	common.RegisterEngine(newEngine, defaults.ProtocolSQLServer)
-}
-
-func newEngine(ec common.EngineConfig) common.Engine {
+// NewEngine create new SQL Server engine.
+func NewEngine(ec common.EngineConfig) common.Engine {
 	return &Engine{
 		EngineConfig: ec,
 		Connector: &connector{