diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index af9c409..c6f2f9d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ cd web && npm run dev
 
 Open http://localhost:3326 and create your first project in Settings.
 
+`npm run db:push` creates the local `data/` directory automatically on first run, so no manual `mkdir -p data` step is needed.
+
 ## Claude Code Integration
 
 Add these hooks to your Claude Code config (`.claude/settings.json`) to auto-track ticket progress:
diff --git a/drizzle.config.ts b/drizzle.config.ts
index 225bfa1..2507379 100644
--- a/drizzle.config.ts
+++ b/drizzle.config.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,16 @@
+import fs from "node:fs";
+import path from "node:path";
 import { defineConfig } from "drizzle-kit";
 
+const databasePath = "data/sqlite.db";
+
+fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(databasePath), { recursive: true });
+
 export default defineConfig({
   schema: "./src/db/schema.ts",
   out: "./drizzle",
   dialect: "sqlite",
   dbCredentials: {
-    url: "data/sqlite.db",
+    url: databasePath,
   },
 });
diff --git a/test/drizzle-config.test.ts b/test/drizzle-config.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..108429f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/drizzle-config.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+
+describe("drizzle config", () => {
+  afterEach(() => {
+    vi.resetModules();
+    vi.clearAllMocks();
+    vi.doUnmock("node:fs");
+  });
+
+  it("creates the sqlite data directory before exporting config", async () => {
+    const mkdirSync = vi.fn();
+    vi.doMock("node:fs", () => ({
+      default: {
+        mkdirSync,
+      },
+    }));
+
+    const { default: config } = await import("../drizzle.config.ts");
+
+    expect(mkdirSync).toHaveBeenCalledWith("data", { recursive: true });
+    expect(config.dbCredentials.url).toBe("data/sqlite.db");
+  });
+});