diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 22277d6..6e865a3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ file will contain more specific instructions for installation.
 
 This is an easy way to get started and get a fairly stable service running.
 
-Requirements are `docker-engine` and `docker-compose`.
+Requirements are `docker-engine` and `docker compose` (bundled with `docker-engine` in recent releases).
 
-Just run `docker-compose up` , the Ushahidi platform will be available at port 80 of your
+Just run `docker compose up` , the Ushahidi platform will be available at port 80 of your
 docker engine host. Default credentials: `admin@example.com / admin` (**do change these** for any
 installation you plan to have exposed)
 
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ Step2 : Change to Ushahidi platform release directory
 
 Step3: Run docker-compose 
 
-`docker-compose up`
+`docker compose up`
 
 ### Docker: Backups
 
@@ -92,6 +92,15 @@ JSON file is set appropriately to the absolute public URL of your deployment
 If you are running the Docker container, you may set this variable using the
 `SITE_URL` environment variable. (In the default install the site URL **is** the backend URL).
 
+### Running database migrations
+
+The database migrations will run automatically when the container starts for the first time and then after
+every restart.
+
+If you would like to run the migrations manually while the container is running, without needing a restart:
+
+`docker compose exec ushahidi /run.sh migrate`
+
 # Other documentation
 
 For other documentation, please check out our [Developer and Contributor docs](https://docs.ushahidi.com/platform-developer-documentation/v/dev-legacy-v3/development-and-code/setup_alternatives/platform_release_install/) !
diff --git a/run.sh b/run.sh
index 63a4a8f..9c1fa16 100755
--- a/run.sh
+++ b/run.sh
@@ -185,10 +185,20 @@ REDIS_PORT=${REDIS_PORT:-}
 EOF
 }
 
+migrate() {
+  if needs_install; then
+    install_app
+  fi
+  # Run migrations
+  ( cd ${PLATFORM_API_HOME} && composer migrate ; )
+}
+
 run() {
   if needs_install; then
     install_app
   fi
+  # Run migrations
+  migrate;
   #
   case "$SERVER_FLAVOR" in
     apache2)
@@ -245,8 +255,6 @@ install_app() {
       chmod 770 storage/passport
       chmod 660 storage/passport/*.key
     fi
-    # Run migrations
-    composer migrate
     # Ensure log files
     mkdir -p ${PLATFORM_API_HOME}/storage/logs
     touch ${PLATFORM_API_HOME}/storage/logs/laravel.log
@@ -416,6 +424,11 @@ case "$1" in
     needs_build && build || true;
     run
     ;;
+  migrate)
+    needs_fetch && fetch || true;
+    needs_build && build || true;
+    migrate
+    ;;
   *)
     exec "$@"
     ;;