diff --git a/pillar_tool/db/migrations/env.py b/pillar_tool/db/migrations/env.py
index 9a1312d..c07bbc5 100644
--- a/pillar_tool/db/migrations/env.py
+++ b/pillar_tool/db/migrations/env.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import os
 import tomllib
 from inspect import stack
 from logging.config import fileConfig
@@ -30,6 +31,20 @@ target_metadata = Base.metadata
 # ... etc.
 
 def get_custom_url():
+    # get the correct path
+    paths: list[str] = [
+        "./pillar_tool.toml",
+        "/etc/pillar_tool/config.toml",
+    ]
+    selected_path = None
+    for path in paths:
+        if os.path.exists(path):
+            selected_path = path
+            break
+
+    if selected_path is None:
+        raise RuntimeError("No loadable config found!")
+
     with open("./pillar_tool.toml", 'rb') as f:
         data = tomllib.load(f)
         user = data['db']['user']