diff --git a/backend/internal/config/config.go b/backend/internal/config/config.go
index 2c240f0..a158737 100644
--- a/backend/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/backend/internal/config/config.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ type Config struct {
 func Load() (*Config, error) {
 	cfg := &Config{
 		Port:             getEnv("PORT", "8080"),
-		DatabaseURL:      os.Getenv("DATABASE_URL"),
+		DatabaseURL:      getEnv("SUPABASE_DATABASE_URL", os.Getenv("DATABASE_URL")),
 		SupabaseURL:      os.Getenv("SUPABASE_URL"),
 		SupabaseAnonKey:   os.Getenv("SUPABASE_ANON_KEY"),
 		SupabaseServiceKey: os.Getenv("SUPABASE_SERVICE_KEY"),
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func Load() (*Config, error) {
 	}
 
 	if cfg.DatabaseURL == "" {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("DATABASE_URL is required")
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("SUPABASE_DATABASE_URL (or DATABASE_URL) is required")
 	}
 	if cfg.SupabaseJWTSecret == "" {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("SUPABASE_JWT_SECRET is required")