diff --git a/docker/start.sh b/docker/start.sh
index 2598eae83..7121790ba 100755
--- a/docker/start.sh
+++ b/docker/start.sh
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ printf "🏥 Health check: http://localhost:3000/api/health\n"
 printf "📊 Certificate status: http://localhost:3000/api/certificate-status\n"
 printf "👥 Community: https://github.com/documenso/documenso\n\n"
 
+# The Prisma schema requires a direct URL. Without a connection pooler, it is the same as the database URL.
+export NEXT_PRIVATE_DIRECT_DATABASE_URL="${NEXT_PRIVATE_DIRECT_DATABASE_URL:-$NEXT_PRIVATE_DATABASE_URL}"
+
 printf "🗄️  Running database migrations...\n"
 npx prisma migrate deploy --schema ../../packages/prisma/schema.prisma