diff --git a/server/db-init.sh b/server/db-init.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..77b9a6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/db-init.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+username=lemmy
+dbname=lemmy
+port=5432
+
+read -p "Enter database password: " -s password
+echo
+
+psql -c "CREATE USER $username WITH PASSWORD '$password' SUPERUSER;" -U postgres
+psql -c 'CREATE DATABASE $dbname WITH OWNER $username;' -U postgres
+export LEMMY_DATABASE_URL=postgres://$username:$password@localhost:$port/$dbname