diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 80404ed..d8ce898 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ services:
     restart: unless-stopped
     environment:
       ALLOWED_ROOMS:
-      DATABASE: /data/db.sqlite3
       DEVICE_NAME: $HOSTNAME
       HOMESERVER: 'https://matrix.org'
       PASSWORD:
diff --git a/internal/config/env.go b/internal/config/env.go
index 43e2ccf..adb991d 100644
--- a/internal/config/env.go
+++ b/internal/config/env.go
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ const (
 )
 
 func FromEnv() Config {
-	db := requireEnv("DATABASE")
 	deviceName := requireEnv("DEVICE_NAME")
 	homeserver := requireEnv("HOMESERVER")
 	userId := requireEnv("USER_ID")
@@ -29,6 +28,11 @@ func FromEnv() Config {
 
 	allowedRooms := os.Getenv("ALLOWED_ROOMS")
 
+	db := os.Getenv("DATABASE")
+	if db == "" {
+		db = "/data/db.sqlite3"
+	}
+
 	greeting := os.Getenv("GREETING")
 	if greeting == "" {
 		greeting = defaultGreeting