diff --git a/letta/server/startup.sh b/letta/server/startup.sh
index 870bc0e45d..e0556f7088 100755
--- a/letta/server/startup.sh
+++ b/letta/server/startup.sh
@@ -1,11 +1,17 @@
 #!/bin/sh
-echo "Starting MEMGPT server..."
+echo "Starting Letta server at http://localhost:8283"
 
-alembic upgrade head
+# Check if LETTA_PG_URI or LETTA_PG_DB is set and run alembic upgrade if either is
+if [ -n "$LETTA_PG_URI" ] || [ -n "$LETTA_PG_DB" ]; then
+    echo "LETTA_PG_URI or LETTA_PG_DB is set, running alembic upgrade head"
+    alembic upgrade head
+fi
 
-if [ "$MEMGPT_ENVIRONMENT" = "DEVELOPMENT" ] ; then
+if [ "$MEMGPT_ENVIRONMENT" = "DEVELOPMENT" ]; then
     echo "Starting in development mode!"
     uvicorn letta.server.rest_api.app:app --reload --reload-dir /letta --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8283
 else
+    # Production start command here (replace with the actual production command)
+    echo "Starting in production mode!"
     uvicorn letta.server.rest_api.app:app --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8283
 fi