diff --git a/docs/en/guides/writing-migrations/migration-methods.md b/docs/en/guides/writing-migrations/migration-methods.md
index 2ac07c99..b72cad02 100644
--- a/docs/en/guides/writing-migrations/migration-methods.md
+++ b/docs/en/guides/writing-migrations/migration-methods.md
@@ -101,6 +101,29 @@ migration. This can be used to prevent the migration from being executed at
 this time. It always returns `true` by default. You can override it in your
 custom `BaseMigration` implementation.
 
+The database adapter is available inside `shouldExecute()`, so the decision can
+be based on the current state of the database (for example the server version or
+whether a table already exists):
+
+```php
+<?php
+
+use Migrations\BaseMigration;
+
+class MyNewMigration extends BaseMigration
+{
+    public function shouldExecute(): bool
+    {
+        return !$this->hasTable('some_table');
+    }
+
+    public function change(): void
+    {
+        // ...
+    }
+}
+```
+
 ## Working With Tables
 
 The Table object enables you to manipulate database tables using PHP code. You
diff --git a/src/Migration/Manager.php b/src/Migration/Manager.php
index 8b011c37..311085d0 100644
--- a/src/Migration/Manager.php
+++ b/src/Migration/Manager.php
@@ -509,6 +509,10 @@ public function executeMigration(MigrationInterface $migration, string $directio
     {
         $this->getIo()->out('');
 
+        // Make the adapter available so shouldExecute() can inspect the database.
+        // The environment sets it again (and wraps it for down/change) before running the migration body.
+        $migration->setAdapter($this->getEnvironment()->getAdapter());
+
         // Skip the migration if it should not be executed
         if (!$migration->shouldExecute()) {
             $this->printMigrationStatus($migration, 'skipped');
@@ -540,6 +544,9 @@ public function executeMigration(MigrationInterface $migration, string $directio
      */
     public function executeSeed(SeedInterface $seed, bool $force = false, bool $fake = false): void
     {
+        // Make the adapter available so shouldExecute() can inspect the database.
+        $seed->setAdapter($this->getEnvironment()->getAdapter());
+
         // Skip the seed if it should not be executed
         if (!$seed->shouldExecute()) {
             $this->getIo()->out('');
diff --git a/tests/TestCase/Migration/ManagerTest.php b/tests/TestCase/Migration/ManagerTest.php
index 3d7ce3d4..8d88b575 100644
--- a/tests/TestCase/Migration/ManagerTest.php
+++ b/tests/TestCase/Migration/ManagerTest.php
@@ -2987,4 +2987,20 @@ public function testMigrationWillNotBeExecuted(): void
 
         $this->assertTrue($adapter->hasTable('info'));
     }
+
+    public function testMigrationShouldExecuteCanQueryDatabase(): void
+    {
+        $configArray = $this->getConfigArray();
+        $adapter = $this->manager->getEnvironment()->getAdapter();
+
+        // override the migrations directory to use a shouldExecute() that queries the database
+        $configArray['paths']['migrations'] = ROOT . '/config/ShouldExecuteWithDb/';
+        $config = new Config($configArray);
+
+        // shouldExecute() calls getAdapter()->hasTable(); before the fix this threw 'Adapter not set.'
+        $this->manager->setConfig($config);
+        $this->manager->migrate(20201207205100);
+
+        $this->assertTrue($adapter->hasTable('info'));
+    }
 }
diff --git a/tests/test_app/config/ShouldExecuteWithDb/20201207205100_should_execute_with_db_migration.php b/tests/test_app/config/ShouldExecuteWithDb/20201207205100_should_execute_with_db_migration.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0f158bda
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_app/config/ShouldExecuteWithDb/20201207205100_should_execute_with_db_migration.php
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+<?php
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+use Migrations\BaseMigration;
+
+class ShouldExecuteWithDbMigration extends BaseMigration
+{
+    public function change(): void
+    {
+        // info table
+        $this->table('info')->create();
+    }
+
+    public function shouldExecute(): bool
+    {
+        // Query the database to decide eligibility. Before the fix the adapter
+        // was not set at this point and getAdapter() threw 'Adapter not set.'.
+        return !$this->getAdapter()->hasTable('info');
+    }
+}