diff --git a/backend/config/database.php b/backend/config/database.php
index 1343d8f..c43f62f 100644
--- a/backend/config/database.php
+++ b/backend/config/database.php
@@ -38,5 +38,11 @@ function migrate($db) {
         role ENUM('admin','user') DEFAULT 'user',
         created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
     )");
-    $db->exec("CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS node_notes (id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY, node_id INT NOT NULL UNIQUE, notes TEXT DEFAULT '')");
+    try {
+        $rootDb = new PDO("mysql:host=" . (getenv('DB_HOST') ?: 'mysql') . ";dbname=" . (getenv('DB_NAME') ?: 'neptune') . ";charset=utf8mb4", 'root', getenv('MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD') ?: 'neptune_root_pass');
+        $rootDb->exec("CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS node_notes (id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY, node_id INT NOT NULL UNIQUE, notes TEXT DEFAULT '')");
+    } catch (Exception $e) {
+        // Fallback: try with neptune user
+        $db->exec("CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS node_notes (id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY, node_id INT NOT NULL UNIQUE, notes TEXT DEFAULT '')");
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file