diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index b006f2b..21bb227 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -23,7 +23,13 @@ services:
   tigerbeetle:
     image: ghcr.io/tigerbeetle/tigerbeetle:latest
     privileged: true
-    command: ["start", "--addresses=0.0.0.0:3000", "--development", "/var/lib/tigerbeetle/0_0.tigerbeetle"]
+    entrypoint: ["/bin/sh", "-ec"]
+    command: |
+      TB_FILE=/var/lib/tigerbeetle/0_0.tigerbeetle
+      if [ ! -f "$$TB_FILE" ]; then
+        /tigerbeetle format --cluster=0 --replica=0 "$$TB_FILE"
+      fi
+      exec /tigerbeetle start --addresses=0.0.0.0:3000 --development "$$TB_FILE"
     expose:
       - "3000"
     volumes: