diff --git a/Dockerfile.migrator b/Dockerfile.migrator
index d237452..35ed286 100644
--- a/Dockerfile.migrator
+++ b/Dockerfile.migrator
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 # syntax=docker/dockerfile:1
-# Migrator image: node:20 + full source + pnpm for `pnpm payload migrate` and `pnpm payload migrate:create`
+# Migrator image — runs `payload migrate` / `payload migrate:create`
+# Requires node:22 for pnpm 11 (node:sqlite).
+# tsx 4.x ESM loader must be preloaded via NODE_OPTIONS so bare
+# specifiers (.ts extensions) resolve before any module is imported.
 
-FROM node:20-alpine AS base
+FROM node:22-alpine AS base
 RUN corepack enable && corepack prepare pnpm@latest --activate
 WORKDIR /app
 
@@ -10,5 +13,6 @@ RUN pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
 
 COPY . .
 
+ENV NODE_OPTIONS="--import tsx/esm"
 ENTRYPOINT ["pnpm", "payload"]
 CMD ["migrate"]