diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.deploy.yml b/.gitlab-ci.deploy.yml
index 85d850c..7815618 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.deploy.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.deploy.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ my.makepostsell.com:
   script:
     # publish build to Salt Master
     - sudo /opt/salt-call-state-highstate.sh
-    # run pending database migrations
-    - /opt/make_post_sell/env/bin/alembic -c /opt/make_post_sell/production.ini upgrade head
+    # run pending database migrations as the app user
+    - sudo -u uwsgi /opt/make_post_sell/env/bin/alembic -c /opt/make_post_sell/production.ini upgrade head
   rules:
     - if: '$CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == "master"'