diff --git a/.github/workflows/run-tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/run-tests.yaml
index 6da610fee..30fe32cc2 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/run-tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/run-tests.yaml
@@ -63,6 +63,16 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           source ~/.nvm/nvm.sh
           yarn install --frozen-lockfile
+      - name: Database Migration
+        run: |
+          yarn workspace @omnivore/db migrate
+          psql --host localhost --port ${{ job.services.postgres.ports[5432] }} --user postgres --password -c "CREATE USER app_user WITH ENCRYPTED PASSWORD 'app_pass';GRANT omnivore_user to app_user;"
+        env:
+          PG_HOST: localhost
+          PG_PORT: ${{ job.services.postgres.ports[5432] }}
+          PG_USER: postgres
+          PG_PASSWORD: postgres
+          PG_DB: omnivore_test
       - name: TypeScript, Lint, Tests
         run: |
           source ~/.nvm/nvm.sh
@@ -72,8 +82,8 @@ jobs:
         env:
           PG_HOST: localhost
           PG_PORT: ${{ job.services.postgres.ports[5432] }}
-          PG_USER: postgres
-          PG_PASSWORD: postgres
+          PG_USER: app_user
+          PG_PASSWORD: app_pass
           PG_DB: omnivore_test
           PG_POOL_MAX: 10
           ELASTIC_URL: http://localhost:${{ job.services.elastic.ports[9200] }}/
diff --git a/packages/api/test/db.ts b/packages/api/test/db.ts
index d1e752c17..fc6a68b26 100644
--- a/packages/api/test/db.ts
+++ b/packages/api/test/db.ts
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ const runMigrations = async () => {
 }
 
 export const createTestConnection = async (): Promise<void> => {
-  await runMigrations()
+  // need to manually run migrations before creating the connection
+  // await runMigrations()
 
   AppDataSource.setOptions({
     type: 'postgres',