diff --git a/src/Dockerfile b/src/Dockerfile
index e4fc8a9..add5976 100644
--- a/src/Dockerfile
+++ b/src/Dockerfile
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@ RUN dotnet build -c Release -o /app
 RUN mv src/mods /app && ln -s /app/mods src/
 RUN mv src/assets /app && ln -s /app/assets src/
 
+# install ef tools
+RUN dotnet tool install --global dotnet-ef --version 7.0.12
+
+# ensure database is in sync with migrations
+RUN dotnet ef database update
+
 # Create clean run environment (without source and sdk)
 # FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/aspnet:6.0 AS base
 # WORKDIR /app
diff --git a/src/Program.cs b/src/Program.cs
index a9bb892..cb35b05 100644
--- a/src/Program.cs
+++ b/src/Program.cs
@@ -63,14 +63,11 @@ var app = builder.Build();
 
 using var scope = app.Services.CreateScope();
 
-scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<DBContext>().Database.EnsureCreated();
-
-// ensure any new migrations are applied
-var migrations = scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<DBContext>().Database.GetPendingMigrations();
-
-if (migrations != null)
-    // apply them
-    await scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<DBContext>().Database.MigrateAsync();
+if(app.Environment.IsDevelopment())
+{
+    var migrations = scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<DBContext>().Database.GetPendingMigrations();
+    if (migrations != null) await scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<DBContext>().Database.MigrateAsync();
+}
 
 // Configure the HTTP request pipeline.