SET @s = (SELECT IF( (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.COLUMNS WHERE table_schema = DATABASE() AND table_name = 'Filters' AND column_name = 'UserId' ) > 0, "SELECT 'Column UserId already exists in Filters'", "ALTER TABLE `Filters` ADD `UserId` int(10) unsigned AFTER `Name`" )); PREPARE stmt FROM @s; EXECUTE stmt;