diff --git a/server/index.js b/server/index.js
index 7d9ea70..3bbc57a 100644
--- a/server/index.js
+++ b/server/index.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ const cors    = require('cors');
 const helmet  = require('helmet');
 const path    = require('path');
 const fs      = require('fs');
+const { runMigrations } = require('./db/migrations');
 const { initDatabase } = require('./db/init');
 const { logStartupBanner } = require('./utils/startupLog');
 
@@ -18,6 +19,16 @@ const DATA_DIR    = process.env.DATA_DIR    || path.join(__dirname, '../data');
   if (!fs.existsSync(dir)) fs.mkdirSync(dir, { recursive: true });
 });
 
+// Run migrations BEFORE initializing the DB connection used by routes
+const DB_PATH = process.env.DB_PATH || path.join(__dirname, '../data/breedr.db');
+console.log('Running database migrations...');
+try {
+  runMigrations(DB_PATH);
+} catch (err) {
+  console.error('Migration failed — aborting startup:', err.message);
+  process.exit(1);
+}
+
 // Init DB (path is managed internally by db/init.js)
 console.log('Initializing database...');
 initDatabase();
@@ -49,7 +60,7 @@ app.use('/api/settings', require('./routes/settings'));
 if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production') {
   const clientBuild = path.join(__dirname, '../client/dist');
   app.use(express.static(clientBuild));
-  app.get(/^(?!\/(?: api|static|uploads)\/).*$/, (_req, res) => {
+  app.get(/^(?!\/(?:api|static|uploads)\/).*$/, (_req, res) => {
     res.sendFile(path.join(clientBuild, 'index.html'));
   });
 }
@@ -64,7 +75,6 @@ app.use((err, _req, res, _next) => {
 });
 
 app.listen(PORT, '0.0.0.0', () => {
-  // Display comprehensive startup log
   logStartupBanner({
     appName: 'BREEDR',
     port: PORT,
@@ -76,4 +86,4 @@ app.listen(PORT, '0.0.0.0', () => {
   });
 });
 
-module.exports = app;
\ No newline at end of file
+module.exports = app;