diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 3dc6fdffe2..d262fe8280 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ if (!databaseUri) {
 }
 
 var api = new ParseServer({
-  databaseURI: databaseUri || 'mongodb://localhost:27017/dev',
+  databaseURI: process.env.DATABASE_URI || 'mongodb://localhost:27017/dev',
   cloud: process.env.CLOUD_CODE_MAIN || __dirname + '/cloud/main.js',
   appId: process.env.APP_ID || 'myAppId',
   masterKey: process.env.MASTER_KEY || 'myMasterKey'