diff --git a/.woodpecker.yml b/.woodpecker.yml
index 9056003f..f560ec80 100644
--- a/.woodpecker.yml
+++ b/.woodpecker.yml
@@ -174,9 +174,7 @@ steps:
       # Deploy backend first
       - kubectl set image deployment/scraper scraper=code.cannabrands.app/creationshop/dispensary-scraper:${CI_COMMIT_SHA:0:8} -n dispensary-scraper
       - kubectl rollout status deployment/scraper -n dispensary-scraper --timeout=300s
-      # Run migrations via kubectl exec (uses pod's existing DB connection)
-      - echo "Running database migrations..."
-      - kubectl exec deployment/scraper -n dispensary-scraper -- node dist/db/migrate.js
+      # Note: Migrations run automatically at startup via auto-migrate
       # Deploy remaining services
       - kubectl set image deployment/scraper-worker worker=code.cannabrands.app/creationshop/dispensary-scraper:${CI_COMMIT_SHA:0:8} -n dispensary-scraper
       - kubectl set image deployment/cannaiq-frontend cannaiq-frontend=code.cannabrands.app/creationshop/cannaiq-frontend:${CI_COMMIT_SHA:0:8} -n dispensary-scraper
diff --git a/.woodpecker/ci.yml b/.woodpecker/ci.yml
index 9056003f..f560ec80 100644
--- a/.woodpecker/ci.yml
+++ b/.woodpecker/ci.yml
@@ -174,9 +174,7 @@ steps:
       # Deploy backend first
       - kubectl set image deployment/scraper scraper=code.cannabrands.app/creationshop/dispensary-scraper:${CI_COMMIT_SHA:0:8} -n dispensary-scraper
       - kubectl rollout status deployment/scraper -n dispensary-scraper --timeout=300s
-      # Run migrations via kubectl exec (uses pod's existing DB connection)
-      - echo "Running database migrations..."
-      - kubectl exec deployment/scraper -n dispensary-scraper -- node dist/db/migrate.js
+      # Note: Migrations run automatically at startup via auto-migrate
       # Deploy remaining services
       - kubectl set image deployment/scraper-worker worker=code.cannabrands.app/creationshop/dispensary-scraper:${CI_COMMIT_SHA:0:8} -n dispensary-scraper
       - kubectl set image deployment/cannaiq-frontend cannaiq-frontend=code.cannabrands.app/creationshop/cannaiq-frontend:${CI_COMMIT_SHA:0:8} -n dispensary-scraper