diff --git a/docker-compose.prod.yml b/docker-compose.prod.yml
index 8a978fe..4d7b356 100644
--- a/docker-compose.prod.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.prod.yml
@@ -1,4 +1,19 @@
 services:
+  # Run pending Payload migrations before the app starts.
+  # Uses the `migrator` image stage (has full src/) so TS files are discoverable.
+  migrator:
+    build:
+      context: .
+      target: migrator
+    restart: "no"
+    networks:
+      - internal
+    env_file:
+      - .env.production
+    depends_on:
+      db:
+        condition: service_healthy
+
   app:
     build:
       context: .
@@ -20,6 +35,8 @@ services:
     depends_on:
       db:
         condition: service_healthy
+      migrator:
+        condition: service_completed_successfully
 
   db:
     image: postgres:17-alpine
diff --git a/src/instrumentation.ts b/src/instrumentation.ts
index a986157..9348ea5 100644
--- a/src/instrumentation.ts
+++ b/src/instrumentation.ts
@@ -1,17 +1,11 @@
 // Runs on Next.js startup (Node.js runtime only) before any requests are handled.
-// Uses compiled/bundled code — no tsx/ESM resolution issues.
+// Migrations are handled by the `migrator` Docker service (docker-compose.prod.yml)
+// which runs before this container starts, so no migration call is needed here.
 export async function register() {
   if (process.env.NEXT_RUNTIME === 'nodejs') {
     const { getPayload } = await import('payload');
     const { default: config } = await import('@payload-config');
-
-    const payload = await getPayload({ config });
-
-    // In dev mode Payload auto-pushes schema changes — migrations only needed in production
-    if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production') {
-      console.log('[startup] Running database migrations...');
-      await payload.db.migrate();
-      console.log('[startup] Migrations complete.');
-    }
+    // Initialize Payload (connects to DB, registers collections/globals)
+    await getPayload({ config });
   }
 }