diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index ad04a98..c4ffa3a 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -23,9 +23,17 @@ use schema::{
 /// ```
 pub fn establish_connection() -> PgConnection {
     
-    dotenv().ok();
+    let key: &str = "DATABASE_URL";
+    let database_url: String;
+    match env::var(key) {
+        Ok(val) => database_url = val,
+        Err(e) => {
+            dotenv().ok();
 
-    let database_url = env::var("DATABASE_URL").expect("DATABASE_URL must be set");
+            database_url = env::var(key).expect("DATABASE_URL must be set");
+        }
+    }
+        
     PgConnection::establish(&database_url)
         .unwrap_or_else(|_| panic!("Error connecting to {}", database_url))
 }