diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index c1f1093..22b9cf4 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ jobs:
           - 5432:5432
         env:
           POSTGRES_DB: db_test
+          POSTGRES_USER: postgres
           POSTGRES_PASSWORD: postgres
           POSTGRES_PORT: 5432
         # set health checks to wait until postgres has started
diff --git a/core/settings.py b/core/settings.py
index 33d665b..d7433c4 100644
--- a/core/settings.py
+++ b/core/settings.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
     REDIS_PORT = env("REDIS_PORT")
 else:
     DB_NAME = os.environ.get("DB_NAME") or os.environ.get("POSTGRES_DB")
-    DB_USER = os.environ.get("DB_USER")
+    DB_USER = os.environ.get("DB_USER") or os.environ.get("POSTGRES_USER")
     DB_PASSWORD = os.environ.get("DB_PASSWORD") or os.environ.get(
         "POSTGRES_PASSWORD"
     )