diff --git a/reflex/app.py b/reflex/app.py
index f8300d8ec..f85294884 100644
--- a/reflex/app.py
+++ b/reflex/app.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ from reflex.state import (
     code_uses_state_contexts,
 )
 from reflex.utils import console, exceptions, format, prerequisites, types
-from reflex.utils.exec import is_testing_env
+from reflex.utils.exec import is_testing_env, should_skip_compile
 from reflex.utils.imports import ImportVar
 
 # Define custom types.
@@ -672,7 +672,7 @@ class App(Base):
             Whether the app should be compiled.
         """
         # Check the environment variable.
-        if os.environ.get(constants.SKIP_COMPILE_ENV_VAR) == "yes":
+        if should_skip_compile():
             return False
 
         # Check the nocompile file.
diff --git a/reflex/utils/exec.py b/reflex/utils/exec.py
index 39326ff7f..44acdf3ee 100644
--- a/reflex/utils/exec.py
+++ b/reflex/utils/exec.py
@@ -307,3 +307,12 @@ def is_prod_mode() -> bool:
         constants.Env.DEV.value,
     )
     return current_mode == constants.Env.PROD.value
+
+
+def should_skip_compile() -> bool:
+    """Whether the app should skip compile.
+
+    Returns:
+        True if the app should skip compile.
+    """
+    return os.environ.get(constants.SKIP_COMPILE_ENV_VAR) == "yes"
diff --git a/reflex/utils/prerequisites.py b/reflex/utils/prerequisites.py
index f60359b0b..507d6f0f8 100644
--- a/reflex/utils/prerequisites.py
+++ b/reflex/utils/prerequisites.py
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ def get_project_hash(raise_on_fail: bool = False) -> int | None:
     # Open and read the file
     with open(constants.Reflex.JSON, "r") as file:
         data = json.load(file)
-        return data["project_hash"]
+        return data.get("project_hash")
 
 
 def initialize_web_directory():
diff --git a/reflex/utils/telemetry.py b/reflex/utils/telemetry.py
index 84080d1ee..7133a6f30 100644
--- a/reflex/utils/telemetry.py
+++ b/reflex/utils/telemetry.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import psutil
 
 from reflex import constants
 from reflex.utils import console
+from reflex.utils.exec import should_skip_compile
 from reflex.utils.prerequisites import ensure_reflex_installation_id, get_project_hash
 
 POSTHOG_API_URL: str = "https://app.posthog.com/capture/"
@@ -64,6 +65,22 @@ def get_memory() -> int:
         return 0
 
 
+def _raise_on_missing_project_hash() -> bool:
+    """Check if an error should be raised when project hash is missing.
+
+    When running reflex with --backend-only, or doing database migration
+    operations, there is no requirement for a .web directory, so the reflex.json
+    file may not exist, and this should not be considered an error.
+
+    Returns:
+        False when compilation should be skipped (i.e. no .web directory is required).
+        Otherwise return True.
+    """
+    if should_skip_compile():
+        return False
+    return True
+
+
 def _prepare_event(event: str) -> dict:
     """Prepare the event to be sent to the PostHog server.
 
@@ -74,7 +91,7 @@ def _prepare_event(event: str) -> dict:
         The event data.
     """
     installation_id = ensure_reflex_installation_id()
-    project_hash = get_project_hash(raise_on_fail=True)
+    project_hash = get_project_hash(raise_on_fail=_raise_on_missing_project_hash())
 
     if installation_id is None or project_hash is None:
         console.debug(