diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-release.yml b/.github/workflows/build-release.yml
index 6fdcc55..35dff66 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-release.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ on:
   release:
     types: [released, prereleased]
 
+env:
+  # dummy database url for build time --> prisma
+  DATABASE_URL: file:./dev.db
+
 permissions:
   contents: read
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/canary-release.yml b/.github/workflows/canary-release.yml
index adb8782..514d2c5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/canary-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/canary-release.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ on:
       - main
   workflow_dispatch:
 
+env:
+  # dummy database url for build time --> prisma
+  DATABASE_URL: file:./dev.db
+
 permissions:
   contents: read
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index f93eefb..0b670b6 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ on:
     branches:
       - main
 
+env:
+  # dummy database url for build time --> prisma
+  DATABASE_URL: file:./dev.db
+
 permissions:
   contents: read