diff --git a/src/hooks.server.ts b/src/hooks.server.ts
index e60cae0..ed3dba7 100644
--- a/src/hooks.server.ts
+++ b/src/hooks.server.ts
@@ -7,20 +7,25 @@ import { sequence } from "@sveltejs/kit/hooks"
 import * as auth from "./auth"
 import { initializeScheduler } from "./lib/server/scheduler"
 import { dbConnect } from "./utils/db"
+import { env } from "$env/dynamic/private"
 import fs from 'fs'
 import path from 'path'
 
-// Initialize database connection on server startup
-console.log('🚀 Server starting - initializing database connection...');
-await dbConnect().then(() => {
-  console.log('✅ Database connected successfully');
-  // Initialize the recurring payment scheduler after DB is ready
-  initializeScheduler();
-  console.log('✅ Recurring payment scheduler initialized');
-}).catch((error) => {
-  console.error('❌ Failed to connect to database on startup:', error);
-  // Don't crash the server - API routes will attempt reconnection
-});
+// Initialize database connection on server startup (skip during build when no env vars)
+if (env.MONGO_URL) {
+  console.log('🚀 Server starting - initializing database connection...');
+  await dbConnect().then(() => {
+    console.log('✅ Database connected successfully');
+    // Initialize the recurring payment scheduler after DB is ready
+    initializeScheduler();
+    console.log('✅ Recurring payment scheduler initialized');
+  }).catch((error) => {
+    console.error('❌ Failed to connect to database on startup:', error);
+    // Don't crash the server - API routes will attempt reconnection
+  });
+} else {
+  console.log('⚠️  MONGO_URL not set - skipping database initialization (build mode)');
+}
 
 async function authorization({ event, resolve }) {
 	const session = await event.locals.auth();