diff --git a/crates/db_schema/src/schema_setup.rs b/crates/db_schema/src/schema_setup.rs
index 2211f9f2d..c18c7f9cb 100644
--- a/crates/db_schema/src/schema_setup.rs
+++ b/crates/db_schema/src/schema_setup.rs
@@ -27,12 +27,24 @@ diesel::table! {
   }
 }
 
+// In production, include migrations in the binary
+#[cfg(not(debug_assertions))]
 fn migrations() -> diesel_migrations::EmbeddedMigrations {
   // Using `const` here is required by the borrow checker
   const MIGRATIONS: diesel_migrations::EmbeddedMigrations = diesel_migrations::embed_migrations!();
   MIGRATIONS
 }
 
+// Avoid recompiling when migrations are changed
+#[cfg(debug_assertions)]
+#[expect(clippy::expect_used)]
+fn migrations() -> diesel_migrations::FileBasedMigrations {
+  diesel_migrations::FileBasedMigrations::find_migrations_directory_in_path(env!(
+    "CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR"
+  ))
+  .expect("failed to get migration source")
+}
+
 /// This SQL code sets up the `r` schema, which contains things that can be safely dropped and
 /// replaced instead of being changed using migrations. It may not create or modify things outside
 /// of the `r` schema (indicated by `r.` before the name), unless a comment says otherwise.