diff --git a/scripts/sync-prod-db.sh b/scripts/sync-prod-db.sh
index 7af1ddf..3cf79d9 100755
--- a/scripts/sync-prod-db.sh
+++ b/scripts/sync-prod-db.sh
@@ -5,9 +5,12 @@
 # then sanitizes the copy to prevent outbound notifications and reduce PII exposure.
 #
 # Usage:
-#   PROD_DATABASE_URL="postgres://..." npm run db:sync-prod
+#   Add PROD_DATABASE_URL to your .env file, then:
+#     npm run db:sync-prod
+#   # or pass inline:
+#     PROD_DATABASE_URL="postgres://..." npm run db:sync-prod
 #   # or pass as argument:
-#   bash scripts/sync-prod-db.sh "postgres://..."
+#     bash scripts/sync-prod-db.sh "postgres://..."
 #
 # Requirements: pg_dump, pg_restore, psql (PostgreSQL client tools)
 
@@ -35,11 +38,16 @@ SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
 ENV_FILE="$SCRIPT_DIR/../.env"
 
 if [[ -f "$ENV_FILE" ]]; then
-  # Export only DATABASE_URL from .env (avoid polluting env with unrelated vars)
+  # Export DATABASE_URL and PROD_DATABASE_URL from .env if not already set in the environment
   DATABASE_URL_FROM_ENV=$(grep -E '^DATABASE_URL=' "$ENV_FILE" | head -1 | cut -d= -f2- | sed 's/^"//' | sed 's/"$//')
   if [[ -n "$DATABASE_URL_FROM_ENV" && -z "${DATABASE_URL:-}" ]]; then
     export DATABASE_URL="$DATABASE_URL_FROM_ENV"
   fi
+
+  PROD_DATABASE_URL_FROM_ENV=$(grep -E '^PROD_DATABASE_URL=' "$ENV_FILE" | head -1 | cut -d= -f2- | sed 's/^"//' | sed 's/"$//')
+  if [[ -n "$PROD_DATABASE_URL_FROM_ENV" && -z "${PROD_DATABASE_URL:-}" ]]; then
+    export PROD_DATABASE_URL="$PROD_DATABASE_URL_FROM_ENV"
+  fi
 fi
 
 # ── Resolve URLs ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────