diff --git a/src/watson/backends.py b/src/watson/backends.py
index c9c1222..1eea76c 100644
--- a/src/watson/backends.py
+++ b/src/watson/backends.py
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ class SearchBackend(object):
         """Executes the SQL needed to uninstall django-watson."""
         pass
     
+    requires_installation = False
+    
     supports_ranking = False
     
     def do_search(self, engine_slug, queryset, search_text):
@@ -136,6 +138,8 @@ class PostgresSearchBackend(SearchBackend):
             
             DROP FUNCTION watson_searchentry_trigger_handler();
         """)
+        
+    requires_installation = True
     
     supports_ranking = True
         
@@ -236,6 +240,8 @@ class MySQLSearchBackend(SearchBackend):
         cursor.execute("DROP INDEX watson_searchentry_description ON watson_searchentry")
         cursor.execute("DROP INDEX watson_searchentry_content ON watson_searchentry")
     
+    requires_installation = True
+    
     supports_ranking = True
     
     def do_search(self, engine_slug, queryset, search_text):
diff --git a/src/watson/management/commands/installwatson.py b/src/watson/management/commands/installwatson.py
index c6c2b87..1540a3b 100644
--- a/src/watson/management/commands/installwatson.py
+++ b/src/watson/management/commands/installwatson.py
@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@ class Command(NoArgsCommand):
         """Runs the management command."""
         verbosity = int(options.get("verbosity", 1))
         backend = get_backend()
-        if backend.is_installed():
+        if not backend.requires_installation:
+            if verbosity >= 2:
+                self.stdout.write("Your search backend does not require installation.\n")
+        elif backend.is_installed():
             if verbosity >= 2:
                 self.stdout.write("django-watson is already installed.\n")
         else:
diff --git a/src/watson/management/commands/uninstallwatson.py b/src/watson/management/commands/uninstallwatson.py
index 2f58c84..66af0a4 100644
--- a/src/watson/management/commands/uninstallwatson.py
+++ b/src/watson/management/commands/uninstallwatson.py
@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@ class Command(NoArgsCommand):
         """Runs the management command."""
         verbosity = int(options.get("verbosity", 1))
         backend = get_backend()
-        if backend.is_installed():
+        if not backend.requires_installation:
+            if verbosity >= 2:
+                self.stdout.write("Your search backend does not require installation.\n")
+        elif backend.is_installed():
             backend.do_uninstall()
             if verbosity >= 2:
                 self.stdout.write("django-watson has been successfully uninstalled.\n")
diff --git a/src/watson/tests.py b/src/watson/tests.py
index e47a0d6..bfbe52f 100644
--- a/src/watson/tests.py
+++ b/src/watson/tests.py
@@ -92,6 +92,23 @@ class RegistrationTest(TestCase):
 complex_registration_search_engine = SearchEngine("restricted")
 
 
+class InstallUninstallTestBase(TestCase):
+
+    def testUninstallAndInstall(self):
+        # Not too much to test here, as some backends don't require installation.
+        # Just make sure the commands don't error.
+        call_command("uninstallwatson", verbosity=0)
+        call_command("installwatson", verbosity=0)
+        
+    @skipUnless(get_backend().requires_installation, "search backend does not require installation")
+    def testRealInstallAndUninstall(self):
+        backend = get_backend()
+        call_command("uninstallwatson", verbosity=0)
+        self.assertFalse(backend.is_installed())
+        call_command("installwatson", verbosity=0)
+        self.assertTrue(backend.is_installed())
+
+
 class SearchTestBase(TestCase):
 
     model1 = TestModel1