diff --git a/rust-backend/src/main.rs b/rust-backend/src/main.rs
index 1322e98..f5f5d38 100644
--- a/rust-backend/src/main.rs
+++ b/rust-backend/src/main.rs
@@ -49,15 +49,12 @@ async fn main() -> std::io::Result<()> {
 
     println!("Starting web server at port {}", port);
 
-    HttpServer::new(|| {
-        let database_path = std::env::var("RUST_BACKEND_DB")
-            .unwrap_or("database.sqlite3".to_string());
-
-        let conn = Arc::new(Mutex::new(rusqlite::Connection::open(database_path).unwrap()));
+    let conn = Arc::new(Mutex::new(rusqlite::Connection::open(database_path).unwrap()));
 
+    HttpServer::new(move || {
         App::new()
             .app_data(web::Data::new(AppData {
-                database: conn,
+                database: conn.clone(),
             }))
             .service(healthcheck)
             .service(authorized)