diff --git a/ceilometer/alarm/storage/impl_mongodb.py b/ceilometer/alarm/storage/impl_mongodb.py
index 07a78edc2..f4549af3a 100644
--- a/ceilometer/alarm/storage/impl_mongodb.py
+++ b/ceilometer/alarm/storage/impl_mongodb.py
@@ -58,6 +58,13 @@ class Connection(pymongo_base.Connection):
         # needed.
         self.upgrade()
 
+    def upgrade(self):
+        # create collection if not present
+        if 'alarm' not in self.db.conn.collection_names():
+            self.db.conn.create_collection('alarm')
+        if 'alarm_history' not in self.db.conn.collection_names():
+            self.db.conn.create_collection('alarm_history')
+
     def clear(self):
         self.conn.drop_database(self.db.name)
         # Connection will be reopened automatically if needed
diff --git a/ceilometer/event/storage/impl_mongodb.py b/ceilometer/event/storage/impl_mongodb.py
index 728c1258e..822831cf2 100644
--- a/ceilometer/event/storage/impl_mongodb.py
+++ b/ceilometer/event/storage/impl_mongodb.py
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ class Connection(pymongo_base.Connection):
         self.upgrade()
 
     def upgrade(self):
+        # create collection if not present
+        if 'event' not in self.db.conn.collection_names():
+            self.db.conn.create_collection('event')
         # Establish indexes
         ttl = cfg.CONF.database.event_time_to_live
         impl_mongodb.Connection.update_ttl(ttl, 'event_ttl', 'timestamp',
diff --git a/ceilometer/storage/impl_mongodb.py b/ceilometer/storage/impl_mongodb.py
index d7b114420..557f8e226 100644
--- a/ceilometer/storage/impl_mongodb.py
+++ b/ceilometer/storage/impl_mongodb.py
@@ -442,6 +442,13 @@ class Connection(pymongo_base.Connection):
         # project_id values are usually mutually exclusive in the
         # queries, so the database won't take advantage of an index
         # including both.
+
+        # create collection if not present
+        if 'resource' not in self.db.conn.collection_names():
+            self.db.conn.create_collection('resource')
+        if 'meter' not in self.db.conn.collection_names():
+            self.db.conn.create_collection('meter')
+
         name_qualifier = dict(user_id='', project_id='project_')
         background = dict(user_id=False, project_id=True)
         for primary in ['user_id', 'project_id']: