diff --git a/appspec.yml b/appspec.yml
index 56488949b..f5ac38fd8 100644
--- a/appspec.yml
+++ b/appspec.yml
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ hooks:
       location: scripts/aws_change_ownership.sh
       runas: root
       timeout: 300
+    -
+      location: scripts/aws_db_updates.sh
+      runas: ubuntu
+      timeout: 300
   ApplicationStart: 
     - 
       location: scripts/aws_start_app.sh
diff --git a/scripts/aws_db_updates.sh b/scripts/aws_db_updates.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..e45ecc843
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/aws_db_updates.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+python3 db.py db upgrade