diff --git a/backend/utils/sequelize.js b/backend/utils/sequelize.js
index a584d1c..befb75d 100644
--- a/backend/utils/sequelize.js
+++ b/backend/utils/sequelize.js
@@ -3,8 +3,24 @@ import dotenv from 'dotenv';
 
 dotenv.config();
 
-const sequelize = new Sequelize(process.env.DB_NAME, process.env.DB_USER, process.env.DB_PASS, {
-    host: process.env.DB_HOST,
+// Validiere Umgebungsvariablen
+const dbName = process.env.DB_NAME;
+const dbUser = process.env.DB_USER;
+const dbPass = process.env.DB_PASS || ''; // Fallback auf leeren String
+const dbHost = process.env.DB_HOST;
+
+console.log('Database configuration:');
+console.log('DB_NAME:', dbName);
+console.log('DB_USER:', dbUser);
+console.log('DB_PASS:', dbPass ? '[SET]' : '[NOT SET]');
+console.log('DB_HOST:', dbHost);
+
+if (!dbName || !dbUser || !dbHost) {
+    throw new Error('Missing required database environment variables: DB_NAME, DB_USER, or DB_HOST');
+}
+
+const sequelize = new Sequelize(dbName, dbUser, dbPass, {
+    host: dbHost,
     dialect: 'postgres',
     define: {
         timestamps: false,