diff --git a/src/wuttjamaican/install.py b/src/wuttjamaican/install.py
index ac1ef04..80f5e46 100644
--- a/src/wuttjamaican/install.py
+++ b/src/wuttjamaican/install.py
@@ -258,7 +258,9 @@ class InstallHandler(GenericHandler):  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
         """
         # get db info/url
         dbinfo = self.get_dbinfo()
-        db_url = dbinfo.get("db_url", self.make_db_url(dbinfo))
+        db_url = dbinfo.get("db_url")
+        if not db_url:
+            db_url = self.make_db_url(dbinfo)
 
         # test db connection
         self.rprint("\n\ttesting db connection... ", end="")