diff --git a/server/index.js b/server/index.js
index d2371b3..7a6666d 100644
--- a/server/index.js
+++ b/server/index.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import habitRouter from "./src/routes/habitRoutes.js";
 import answerRouter from "./src/routes/answerRoutes.js";
 import verifyToken from "./src/middleware/auth.js";
 import { notFound, errorHandler } from "./src/middleware/errorHandler.js";
+mongoose.set("strictQuery", false);
 
 const PORT = process.env.PORT || 3001;
 const app = express();
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ app.use(errorHandler);
 
 const runServer = async () => {
   try {
-    mongoose.connect(process.env.MONGODB_URI);
+    await mongoose.connect(process.env.MONGODB_URI);
 
     app.listen(PORT, () => {
       console.log(`EcoHabit is running, server listening to ${PORT}`);