diff --git a/vitest.config.ts b/vitest.config.ts
index 77cab64..28db09c 100644
--- a/vitest.config.ts
+++ b/vitest.config.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,12 @@ export default defineConfig({
   test: {
     globals: true,
     environment: "node",
+    env: {
+      // Tests run from the host machine, so use localhost instead of Docker service name
+      DATABASE_URL:
+        process.env.DATABASE_URL_LOCAL ||
+        "postgresql://netforge:netforge_dev@localhost:5432/netforge_dev",
+    },
   },
   resolve: {
     alias: {