diff --git a/lib/config.js b/lib/config.js
index bdc2cbd..a14bf97 100644
--- a/lib/config.js
+++ b/lib/config.js
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ var defaultpermission = process.env.HMD_DEFAULT_PERMISSION || config.defaultperm
 defaultpermission = permissions.indexOf(defaultpermission) != -1 ? defaultpermission : 'editable';
 
 // db
-var dburl = config.dburl || process.env.HMD_DB_URL || process.env.DATABASE_URL;
+var dburl = process.env.HMD_DB_URL || process.env.DATABASE_URL || config.dburl;
 var db = config.db || {};
 
 // ssl path