diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/workflow.yml b/.gitea/workflows/workflow.yml
index bedf50d..bf47367 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/workflow.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/workflow.yml
@@ -32,6 +32,22 @@ jobs:
   test:
     name: Test Suite
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
+    # --- Add database service definition ---
+    services:
+      postgres:
+        image: postgres:17.4 # Or pin to a more specific version like 14.9
+        env:
+          # Use secrets for DB init, with fallbacks for flexibility
+          POSTGRES_USER: ${{ secrets.DB_TEST_USER || 'testuser' }}
+          POSTGRES_PASSWORD: ${{ secrets.DB_TEST_PASSWORD || 'testpassword' }}
+          POSTGRES_DB: ${{ secrets.DB_TEST_NAME || 'testdb' }}
+        # Options to wait until the database is ready
+        options: >-
+          --health-cmd pg_isready
+          --health-interval 10s
+          --health-timeout 5s
+          --health-retries 5
+
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: actions-rust-lang/setup-rust-toolchain@v1
@@ -51,7 +67,34 @@ jobs:
           echo "Docker environment check complete."
         # NOTE: Do NOT use continue-on-error here.
         # If Docker isn't working as expected, the job SHOULD fail here.
-      - run: |
+            # --- Optional but Recommended: Database Migrations Step ---
+      - name: Run Database Migrations
+        env:
+          # Define TEST_DATABASE_URL using service details and secrets
+          TEST_DATABASE_URL: postgresql://${{ secrets.DB_TEST_USER || 'testuser' }}:${{ secrets.DB_TEST_PASSWORD || 'testpassword' }}@postgres:5432/${{ secrets.DB_TEST_NAME || 'testdb' }}
+          # Make SSH agent available if migrations fetch private dependencies
+          SSH_AUTH_SOCK: ${{ env.SSH_AUTH_SOCK }}
+        run: |
+          echo "Running database migrations..."
+          # ===> IMPORTANT: Replace placeholder below with your actual migration command <===
+          # Example: Install and run sqlx-cli
+          # cargo install sqlx-cli --no-default-features --features native-tls,postgres
+          # sqlx database setup --database-url $TEST_DATABASE_URL
+
+          # Example: Install and run diesel_cli
+          # cargo install diesel_cli --no-default-features --features postgres
+          # diesel migration run --database-url $TEST_DATABASE_URL
+
+          # echo "[Placeholder] Your migration command goes here."
+          # ===> End of Placeholder <===
+      - name: Run tests
+        env:
+          # Define TEST_DATABASE_URL for tests to use
+          TEST_DATABASE_URL: postgresql://${{ secrets.DB_TEST_USER || 'testuser' }}:${{ secrets.DB_TEST_PASSWORD || 'testpassword' }}@postgres:5432/${{ secrets.DB_TEST_NAME || 'testdb' }}
+          RUST_LOG: info # Optional: configure test log level
+          # Make SSH agent available if tests fetch private dependencies
+          SSH_AUTH_SOCK: ${{ env.SSH_AUTH_SOCK }}
+        run: |
           mkdir -p ~/.ssh
           echo "${{ secrets.MYREPO_TOKEN }}" > ~/.ssh/gitlab_deploy_key
           chmod 600 ~/.ssh/gitlab_deploy_key
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 45a6f29..6567308 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ tracing-subscriber = { version = "0.3.19" }
 tower = { version = "0.5.2" }
 hyper = { version = "1.6.0" }
 sqlx = { version = "0.8.3", features = ["postgres", "runtime-tokio-native-tls"] }
-dotenv = { version = "0.15" }
+dotenvy = { version = "0.15.7" }
 icarus_models = { git = "ssh://git@git.kundeng.us/phoenix/icarus_models.git", tag = "v0.2.0" }
 
 [dev-dependencies]
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index c3c562c..641a39d 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,13 @@ mod keys {
     pub mod error {
         pub const ERROR: &str = "DATABASE_URL must be set in .env";
     }
+
+    pub mod test {
+        pub const DBURL: &str = "TEST_DATABASE_URL";
+        pub mod error {
+            pub const ERROR: &str = "TEST_DATABASE_URL must be set in .env";
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 mod connection_settings {
@@ -22,12 +29,23 @@ pub mod db_pool {
     use crate::{connection_settings, keys};
 
     pub async fn create_pool() -> Result<sqlx::PgPool, sqlx::Error> {
-        dotenv::dotenv().ok();
-        let database_url = env::var(keys::DBURL).expect(keys::error::ERROR);
+        let database_url = get_db_url().await;
+        println!("Database url: {:?}", database_url);
 
         PgPoolOptions::new()
             .max_connections(connection_settings::MAXCONN)
             .connect(&database_url)
             .await
     }
+
+    async fn get_db_url() -> String {
+        #[cfg(debug_assertions)] // Example: Only load .env in debug builds
+        dotenvy::dotenv().ok();
+
+        if cfg!(debug_assertions) {
+            env::var(keys::test::DBURL).expect(keys::test::error::ERROR)
+        } else {
+            env::var(keys::DBURL).expect(keys::error::ERROR)
+        }
+    }
 }