diff --git a/financial_system/core/settings.py b/financial_system/core/settings.py
index c44a795..5a9fc12 100644
--- a/financial_system/core/settings.py
+++ b/financial_system/core/settings.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ def get_settings() -> AppSettings:
         upload_dir=_project_path(storage.get("upload_dir", "uploads")),
         output_dir=_project_path(storage.get("output_dir", "outputs")),
         avatar_dir=_project_path(storage.get("avatar_dir", "static/uploads/avatars")),
-        database_url=str(database.get("url", DEFAULT_DATABASE_URL)).strip(),
+        database_url=_env_string("DATABASE_URL", database.get("url", DEFAULT_DATABASE_URL)),
         dingtalk_app_key=str(dingtalk.get("app_key", "")).strip(),
         dingtalk_app_secret=str(dingtalk.get("app_secret", "")).strip(),
         dingtalk_base_url=str(dingtalk.get("base_url", "https://oapi.dingtalk.com")).rstrip("/"),
@@ -141,6 +141,11 @@ def _string_tuple(value: object, default: tuple[str, ...]) -> tuple[str, ...]:
     return normalized or default
 
 
+def _env_string(name: str, fallback: object) -> str:
+    configured_value = os.getenv(name, "").strip()
+    return configured_value or str(fallback).strip()
+
+
 def _bool(value: object) -> bool:
     if isinstance(value, bool):
         return value