diff --git a/packages/api/src/data_source.ts b/packages/api/src/data_source.ts
index cb3ab4549..1a06fa0d9 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/data_source.ts
+++ b/packages/api/src/data_source.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ export const appDataSource = new DataSource({
     max: env.pg.pool.max,
     idleTimeoutMillis: 10000, // 10 seconds
   },
+
   replication: env.pg.replication
     ? {
         master: {
@@ -42,5 +43,15 @@ export const appDataSource = new DataSource({
           },
         ],
       }
-    : undefined,
+    : {
+        defaultMode: 'master',
+        master: {
+          host: env.pg.host,
+          port: env.pg.port,
+          username: env.pg.userName,
+          password: env.pg.password,
+          database: env.pg.dbName,
+        },
+        slaves: [],
+      },
 })
diff --git a/self-hosting/docker-compose/.env.example b/self-hosting/docker-compose/.env.example
index 69994d02c..4e264fa63 100644
--- a/self-hosting/docker-compose/.env.example
+++ b/self-hosting/docker-compose/.env.example
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ POSTGRES_PASSWORD=postgres
 POSTGRES_DB=omnivore
 PGPASSWORD=postgres
 POSTGRES_USER=postgres
+PG_REPLICATION=false
+
 PG_HOST=postgres
 PG_PASSWORD=app_pass
 PG_DB=omnivore