diff --git a/lib/galaxy/model/migrations/util.py b/lib/galaxy/model/migrations/util.py
index 5163b2ff1c2..4985770dca9 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/model/migrations/util.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/model/migrations/util.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import logging
 
-from alembic import op
+from alembic import (
+    context,
+    op,
+)
 from sqlalchemy import inspect
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -12,7 +15,19 @@ def drop_column(table_name, column_name):
 
 
 def column_exists(table_name, column_name):
+    if is_offline_mode():
+        msg = (
+            "This script is being executed in offline mode and cannot connect to the database. "
+            f"Therefore, `column_exists({table_name}, {column_name})` returns `False` by default."
+        )
+        log.debug(msg)
+        return False
     bind = op.get_context().bind
     insp = inspect(bind)
     columns = insp.get_columns(table_name)
     return any(c["name"] == column_name for c in columns)
+
+
+def is_offline_mode():
+    cmd_opts = context.config.cmd_opts
+    return cmd_opts and cmd_opts.sql