diff --git a/datamodel/app/create_app.py b/datamodel/app/create_app.py
index 0a93bbf0..04898cd1 100755
--- a/datamodel/app/create_app.py
+++ b/datamodel/app/create_app.py
@@ -47,4 +47,9 @@ def create_views(srid: int, pg_service: str):
     )
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
-    create_views(args.srid, args.pg_service)
+    pg_service = args.pg_service
+    if not pg_service:
+        pg_service = os.getenv("PGSERVICE")
+    assert pg_service
+
+    create_views(args.srid, pg_service)