diff --git a/cmd/migrate/main.go b/cmd/migrate/main.go
index 6341b7941..e456a9e3e 100644
--- a/cmd/migrate/main.go
+++ b/cmd/migrate/main.go
@@ -4,26 +4,33 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"os"
 
-	"github.com/polygonid/sh-id-platform/internal/config"
+	"github.com/joho/godotenv"
+
 	"github.com/polygonid/sh-id-platform/internal/db/schema"
 	"github.com/polygonid/sh-id-platform/internal/log"
 
 	_ "github.com/lib/pq"
 )
 
+// IssuerDatabaseUrl is the environment variable for the issuer database URL
+const IssuerDatabaseUrl = "ISSUER_DATABASE_URL"
+
 func main() {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	defer cancel()
 
-	cfg, err := config.Load("")
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Error(ctx, "cannot load config", "err", err)
+	if os.Getenv(IssuerDatabaseUrl) == "" {
+		err := godotenv.Load(".env-issuer")
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Error(ctx, "Error loading .env-issuer file")
+		}
 	}
 
-	log.Config(cfg.Log.Level, cfg.Log.Mode, os.Stdout)
-	log.Debug(ctx, "database", "url", cfg.Database.URL)
+	databaseUrl := os.Getenv(IssuerDatabaseUrl)
+	log.Config(log.LevelDebug, log.LevelDebug, os.Stdout)
+	log.Debug(ctx, "database", "url", databaseUrl)
 
-	if err := schema.Migrate(cfg.Database.URL); err != nil {
+	if err := schema.Migrate(databaseUrl); err != nil {
 		log.Error(ctx, "error migrating database", "err", err)
 		return
 	}