diff --git a/pkg/database/client.go b/pkg/database/client.go
index 1fadda5..7618372 100644
--- a/pkg/database/client.go
+++ b/pkg/database/client.go
@@ -70,9 +70,11 @@ func Connect(ctx context.Context, config models.DatabaseConfig) error {
 		return utils.HandleError(ctx, span, localLogger, err)
 	}
 
-	err = migrateDatabase(ctx, sqlDB, config)
-	if err != nil {
-		return utils.HandleError(ctx, span, localLogger, err)
+	if config.Migrate {
+		err = migrateDatabase(ctx, sqlDB, config)
+		if err != nil {
+			return utils.HandleError(ctx, span, localLogger, err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	client = sqlDB
diff --git a/pkg/models/config.go b/pkg/models/config.go
index 2013b95..e98a58f 100644
--- a/pkg/models/config.go
+++ b/pkg/models/config.go
@@ -9,4 +9,5 @@ type DatabaseConfig struct {
 	SSL      bool   `env:"DB_SSL,required" envDefault:"true"`
 	Timezone string `env:"DB_TIMEZONE,required" envDefault:"Europe/Berlin"`
 	Debug    bool   `env:"DB_DEBUG" envDefault:"false"`
+	Migrate  bool
 }
diff --git a/test/helper.go b/test/helper.go
index 49155fa..aa12b0e 100644
--- a/test/helper.go
+++ b/test/helper.go
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ func DatabaseModesFromConnectionString(ctx context.Context, pgContainer *postgre
 		SSL:      false,
 		Timezone: "Europe/Berlin",
 		Debug:    true,
+		Migrate:  true,
 	}
 
 	return databaseConfig, nil