diff --git a/backend/api/index.php b/backend/api/index.php
index 73157a6..2682732 100644
--- a/backend/api/index.php
+++ b/backend/api/index.php
@@ -364,6 +364,8 @@ function handleComments($method, $id, $db) {
 }
 
 function handleNodes($method, $id, $db) {
+    // Ensure node_notes table exists
+    try { $db->exec("CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS node_notes (node_id INT, notes TEXT DEFAULT '')"); } catch (Exception $e) {}
     switch ($method) {
         case 'GET':
             echo json_encode($db->query("SELECT n.*, nn.notes FROM network_nodes n LEFT JOIN node_notes nn ON n.id = nn.node_id ORDER BY n.group_name, n.label")->fetchAll(PDO::FETCH_ASSOC));
diff --git a/backend/config/database.php b/backend/config/database.php
index 6f6d2cd..049ce79 100644
--- a/backend/config/database.php
+++ b/backend/config/database.php
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ function getDbConnection() {
 }
 
 function migrate($db) {
+    // Create tables using the main connection
     $db->exec("CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS network_shapes (
         id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
         label VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL DEFAULT '',
@@ -38,11 +39,10 @@ function migrate($db) {
         role ENUM('admin','user') DEFAULT 'user',
         created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
     )");
+    // Connect as root for schema changes
     try {
-        $db->exec("CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS node_notes (
-            node_id INT PRIMARY KEY,
-            notes TEXT DEFAULT ''
-        )");
+        $root = new PDO("mysql:host=" . (getenv('DB_HOST') ?: 'mysql') . ";dbname=" . (getenv('DB_NAME') ?: 'neptune') . ";charset=utf8mb4", 'root', getenv('MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD') ?: 'neptune_root_pass');
+        $root->exec("CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS node_notes (node_id INT PRIMARY KEY, notes TEXT DEFAULT '')");
     } catch (Exception $e) {
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docker/init.sql b/docker/init.sql
index df54d8a..b185707 100644
--- a/docker/init.sql
+++ b/docker/init.sql
@@ -70,7 +70,10 @@ INSERT IGNORE INTO teams (name, color) VALUES
     ('SOC', '#ffc107'),
     ('Threat Intel', '#198754');
 
--- Ensure notes column exists and grant ALTER privilege
+-- Ensure the neptune user has all privileges on neptune database
+GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON neptune.* TO 'neptune'@'%';
+FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
+
 CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS node_notes (
     node_id INT PRIMARY KEY,
     notes TEXT DEFAULT ''