diff --git a/app.json b/app.json
index a65ae0b1..37164c50 100644
--- a/app.json
+++ b/app.json
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@
     "CLOUDINARY_URL": {
       "required": true
     },
-    "DATABASE_URL": "WILL_NOT_BE_USED",
+    "DATABASE_URL": {
+      "required": true
+    },
     "DEPLOY_TASKS": "db:cleardb_env",
     "LANG": {
       "required": true