diff --git a/cmd/africastalking/main.go b/cmd/africastalking/main.go
index 72d3944..24812a1 100644
--- a/cmd/africastalking/main.go
+++ b/cmd/africastalking/main.go
@@ -12,17 +12,17 @@ import (
 	"syscall"
 
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/engine"
+	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/lang"
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/logging"
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/resource"
-	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/lang"
 
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/config"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/initializers"
+	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/args"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/handlers"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/http/at"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/storage"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/remote"
-	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/args"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ func main() {
 	var connStr string
 	var resourceDir string
 	var size uint
-	var database string
 	var engineDebug bool
 	var host string
 	var port uint
@@ -60,7 +59,7 @@ func main() {
 	flag.Var(&langs, "language", "add symbol resolution for language")
 	flag.Parse()
 
-	if connStr != "" {
+	if connStr == "" {
 		connStr = config.DbConn
 	}
 	connData, err := storage.ToConnData(connStr)
@@ -72,7 +71,6 @@ func main() {
 	logg.Infof("start command", "build", build, "conn", connData, "resourcedir", resourceDir, "outputsize", size)
 
 	ctx := context.Background()
-	ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, "Database", database)
 	ln, err := lang.LanguageFromCode(config.DefaultLanguage)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "default language set error: %v", err)
diff --git a/cmd/async/main.go b/cmd/async/main.go
index dc293e6..27db453 100644
--- a/cmd/async/main.go
+++ b/cmd/async/main.go
@@ -10,16 +10,16 @@ import (
 	"syscall"
 
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/engine"
+	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/lang"
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/logging"
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/resource"
-	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/lang"
 
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/config"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/initializers"
+	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/args"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/handlers"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/storage"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/remote"
-	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/args"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ func main() {
 	var sessionId string
 	var resourceDir string
 	var size uint
-	var database string
 	var engineDebug bool
 	var host string
 	var port uint
@@ -71,7 +70,7 @@ func main() {
 	flag.Var(&langs, "language", "add symbol resolution for language")
 	flag.Parse()
 
-	if connStr != "" {
+	if connStr == "" {
 		connStr = config.DbConn
 	}
 	connData, err := storage.ToConnData(connStr)
@@ -83,7 +82,6 @@ func main() {
 	logg.Infof("start command", "conn", connData, "resourcedir", resourceDir, "outputsize", size, "sessionId", sessionId)
 
 	ctx := context.Background()
-	ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, "Database", database)
 
 	ln, err := lang.LanguageFromCode(config.DefaultLanguage)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -117,7 +115,6 @@ func main() {
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
-
 	userdataStore, err := menuStorageService.GetUserdataDb(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, err.Error())
diff --git a/cmd/http/main.go b/cmd/http/main.go
index 8e65232..6617ca5 100644
--- a/cmd/http/main.go
+++ b/cmd/http/main.go
@@ -12,22 +12,22 @@ import (
 	"syscall"
 
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/engine"
+	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/lang"
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/logging"
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/resource"
-	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/lang"
 
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/config"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/initializers"
+	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/args"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/handlers"
 	httpserver "git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/http"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/storage"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/remote"
-	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/args"
 )
 
 var (
-	logg      = logging.NewVanilla()
-	scriptDir = path.Join("services", "registration")
+	logg          = logging.NewVanilla()
+	scriptDir     = path.Join("services", "registration")
 	menuSeparator = ": "
 )
 
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ func main() {
 	var connStr string
 	var resourceDir string
 	var size uint
-	var database string
 	var engineDebug bool
 	var host string
 	var port uint
@@ -59,7 +58,7 @@ func main() {
 	flag.Var(&langs, "language", "add symbol resolution for language")
 	flag.Parse()
 
-	if connStr != "" {
+	if connStr == "" {
 		connStr = config.DbConn
 	}
 	connData, err := storage.ToConnData(connStr)
@@ -71,7 +70,6 @@ func main() {
 	logg.Infof("start command", "conn", connData, "resourcedir", resourceDir, "outputsize", size)
 
 	ctx := context.Background()
-	ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, "Database", database)
 
 	ln, err := lang.LanguageFromCode(config.DefaultLanguage)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -94,7 +92,7 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	menuStorageService := storage.NewMenuStorageService(connData, resourceDir)
-	
+
 	rs, err := menuStorageService.GetResource(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, err.Error())
diff --git a/cmd/main.go b/cmd/main.go
index 3939c9d..d2fe0ba 100644
--- a/cmd/main.go
+++ b/cmd/main.go
@@ -8,14 +8,14 @@ import (
 	"path"
 
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/engine"
+	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/lang"
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/logging"
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/resource"
-	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/lang"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/config"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/initializers"
+	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/args"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/handlers"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/storage"
-	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/args"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/remote"
 )
 
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ func main() {
 	var connStr string
 	var size uint
 	var sessionId string
-	var database string
 	var engineDebug bool
 	var resourceDir string
 	var err error
@@ -52,7 +51,7 @@ func main() {
 	flag.Var(&langs, "language", "add symbol resolution for language")
 	flag.Parse()
 
-	if connStr != "" {
+	if connStr == "" {
 		connStr = config.DbConn
 	}
 	connData, err := storage.ToConnData(connStr)
@@ -69,7 +68,6 @@ func main() {
 
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, "SessionId", sessionId)
-	ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, "Database", database)
 
 	ln, err := lang.LanguageFromCode(config.DefaultLanguage)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -89,7 +87,7 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	menuStorageService := storage.NewMenuStorageService(connData, resourceDir)
-	
+
 	if gettextDir != "" {
 		menuStorageService = menuStorageService.WithGettext(gettextDir, langs.Langs())
 	}
diff --git a/devtools/store/generate/main.go b/devtools/store/generate/main.go
index 749f340..c421d1a 100644
--- a/devtools/store/generate/main.go
+++ b/devtools/store/generate/main.go
@@ -9,14 +9,16 @@ import (
 	"path"
 
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/logging"
-	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/config"
-	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/storage"
-	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/initializers"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/common"
+	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/config"
+	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/initializers"
+	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/storage"
+	testdataloader "github.com/peteole/testdata-loader"
 )
 
 var (
 	logg      = logging.NewVanilla()
+	baseDir   = testdataloader.GetBasePath()
 	scriptDir = path.Join("services", "registration")
 )
 
@@ -24,7 +26,6 @@ func init() {
 	initializers.LoadEnvVariables()
 }
 
-
 func main() {
 	config.LoadConfig()
 
@@ -86,5 +87,4 @@ func main() {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, err.Error())
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
-	
 }
diff --git a/initializers/load.go b/initializers/load.go
index 4ea5980..fc61746 100644
--- a/initializers/load.go
+++ b/initializers/load.go
@@ -3,24 +3,30 @@ package initializers
 import (
 	"log"
 	"os"
+	"path"
 	"strconv"
 
 	"github.com/joho/godotenv"
 )
 
 func LoadEnvVariables() {
-	err := godotenv.Load()
+	LoadEnvVariablesPath(".")
+}
+
+func LoadEnvVariablesPath(dir string) {
+	fp := path.Join(dir, ".env")
+	err := godotenv.Load(fp)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatal("Error loading .env file")
+		log.Fatal("Error loading .env file", err)
 	}
 }
 
 // Helper to get environment variables with a default fallback
 func GetEnv(key, defaultVal string) string {
-  if value, exists := os.LookupEnv(key); exists {
-   	return value
+	if value, exists := os.LookupEnv(key); exists {
+		return value
 	}
-  return defaultVal
+	return defaultVal
 }
 
 // Helper to safely convert environment variables to uint
diff --git a/internal/storage/parse.go b/internal/storage/parse.go
index bb25627..41dac6b 100644
--- a/internal/storage/parse.go
+++ b/internal/storage/parse.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ const (
 type ConnData struct {
 	typ int
 	str string
+	domain string
 }
 
 func (cd *ConnData) DbType() int {
@@ -25,23 +26,38 @@ func (cd *ConnData) String() string {
 	return cd.str
 }
 
-func probePostgres(s string) (string, bool) {
-	v, err := url.Parse(s)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", false
-	}
-	if v.Scheme != "postgres" {
-		return "", false
-	}
-	return s, true
+func (cd *ConnData) Domain() string {
+	return cd.domain
 }
 
-func probeGdbm(s string) (string, bool) {
+func (cd *ConnData) Path() string {
+	v, _ := url.Parse(cd.str)
+	v.RawQuery = ""
+	return v.String()
+}
+
+func probePostgres(s string) (string, string, bool) {
+	domain := "public"
+	v, err := url.Parse(s)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", "", false
+	}
+	if v.Scheme != "postgres" {
+		return "", "", false
+	}
+	vv := v.Query()
+	if vv.Has("search_path") {
+		domain = vv.Get("search_path")
+	}
+	return s, domain, true
+}
+
+func probeGdbm(s string) (string, string, bool) {
 	if !path.IsAbs(s) {
-		return "", false
+		return "", "", false
 	}
 	s = path.Clean(s)
-	return s, true
+	return s, "", true
 }
 
 func ToConnData(connStr string) (ConnData, error) {
@@ -51,14 +67,15 @@ func ToConnData(connStr string) (ConnData, error) {
 		return o, nil
 	}
 
-	v, ok := probePostgres(connStr)
+	v, domain, ok := probePostgres(connStr)
 	if ok {
 		o.typ = DBTYPE_POSTGRES
 		o.str = v
+		o.domain = domain
 		return o, nil
 	}
 
-	v, ok = probeGdbm(connStr)
+	v, _, ok = probeGdbm(connStr)
 	if ok {
 		o.typ = DBTYPE_GDBM
 		o.str = v
diff --git a/internal/storage/storageservice.go b/internal/storage/storageservice.go
index 2e093a5..374af74 100644
--- a/internal/storage/storageservice.go
+++ b/internal/storage/storageservice.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/persist"
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/resource"
 	gdbmstorage "git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/storage/db/gdbm"
+	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5/pgxpool"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -54,7 +55,12 @@ func (ms *MenuStorageService) getOrCreateDb(ctx context.Context, existingDb db.D
 	connStr := ms.conn.String()
 	dbTyp := ms.conn.DbType()
 	if dbTyp == DBTYPE_POSTGRES {
-		newDb = postgres.NewPgDb()
+		// TODO: move to vise
+		err = ensureSchemaExists(ctx, ms.conn)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		newDb = postgres.NewPgDb().WithSchema(ms.conn.Domain())
 	} else if dbTyp == DBTYPE_GDBM {
 		err = ms.ensureDbDir()
 		if err != nil {
@@ -65,7 +71,7 @@ func (ms *MenuStorageService) getOrCreateDb(ctx context.Context, existingDb db.D
 	} else {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unsupported connection string: '%s'\n", ms.conn.String())
 	}
-	logg.DebugCtxf(ctx, "connecting to db", "conn", connStr)
+	logg.DebugCtxf(ctx, "connecting to db", "conn", connStr, "conndata", ms.conn)
 	err = newDb.Connect(ctx, connStr)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -96,6 +102,23 @@ func (ms *MenuStorageService) WithGettext(path string, lns []lang.Language) *Men
 	return ms
 }
 
+// ensureSchemaExists creates a new schema if it does not exist
+func ensureSchemaExists(ctx context.Context, conn ConnData) error {
+	h, err := pgxpool.New(ctx, conn.Path())
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to connect to the database: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer h.Close()
+
+	query := fmt.Sprintf("CREATE SCHEMA IF NOT EXISTS %s", conn.Domain())
+	_, err = h.Exec(ctx, query)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create schema: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (ms *MenuStorageService) GetPersister(ctx context.Context) (*persist.Persister, error) {
 	stateStore, err := ms.GetStateStore(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/testutil/engine.go b/internal/testutil/engine.go
index 2372ce9..5d581ba 100644
--- a/internal/testutil/engine.go
+++ b/internal/testutil/engine.go
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ package testutil
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"log"
+	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"path"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -11,21 +13,90 @@ import (
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/engine"
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/logging"
 	"git.defalsify.org/vise.git/resource"
+	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/config"
+	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/initializers"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/handlers"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/storage"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/testutil/testservice"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/internal/testutil/testtag"
-	testdataloader "github.com/peteole/testdata-loader"
 	"git.grassecon.net/urdt/ussd/remote"
+	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5/pgxpool"
+	testdataloader "github.com/peteole/testdata-loader"
 )
 
 var (
-	baseDir   = testdataloader.GetBasePath()
-	logg      = logging.NewVanilla()
-	scriptDir = path.Join(baseDir, "services", "registration")
+	logg        = logging.NewVanilla()
+	baseDir     = testdataloader.GetBasePath()
+	scriptDir   = path.Join(baseDir, "services", "registration")
+	setDbType   string
+	setConnStr  string
+	setDbSchema string
 )
 
+func init() {
+	initializers.LoadEnvVariablesPath(baseDir)
+	config.LoadConfig()
+}
+
+// SetDatabase updates the database used by TestEngine
+func SetDatabase(database, connStr, dbSchema string) {
+	setDbType = database
+	setConnStr = connStr
+	setDbSchema = dbSchema
+}
+
+// CleanDatabase removes all test data from the database
+func CleanDatabase() {
+	if setDbType == "postgres" {
+		ctx := context.Background()
+		// Update the connection string with the new search path
+		updatedConnStr, err := updateSearchPath(setConnStr, setDbSchema)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Fatalf("Failed to update search path: %v", err)
+		}
+
+		dbConn, err := pgxpool.New(ctx, updatedConnStr)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Fatalf("Failed to connect to database for cleanup: %v", err)
+		}
+		defer dbConn.Close()
+
+		query := fmt.Sprintf("DELETE FROM %s.kv_vise;", setDbSchema)
+		_, execErr := dbConn.Exec(ctx, query)
+		if execErr != nil {
+			log.Printf("Failed to cleanup table %s.kv_vise: %v", setDbSchema, execErr)
+		} else {
+			log.Printf("Successfully cleaned up table %s.kv_vise", setDbSchema)
+		}
+	} else {
+		setConnStr, _ := filepath.Abs(setConnStr)
+		if err := os.RemoveAll(setConnStr); err != nil {
+			log.Fatalf("Failed to delete state store %s: %v", setConnStr, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// updateSearchPath updates the search_path (schema) to be used in the connection
+func updateSearchPath(connStr string, newSearchPath string) (string, error) {
+	u, err := url.Parse(connStr)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("invalid connection string: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Parse the query parameters
+	q := u.Query()
+
+	// Update or add the search_path parameter
+	q.Set("search_path", newSearchPath)
+
+	// Rebuild the connection string with updated parameters
+	u.RawQuery = q.Encode()
+
+	return u.String(), nil
+}
+
 func TestEngine(sessionId string) (engine.Engine, func(), chan bool) {
+	var err error
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, "SessionId", sessionId)
 	pfp := path.Join(scriptDir, "pp.csv")
@@ -39,16 +110,27 @@ func TestEngine(sessionId string) (engine.Engine, func(), chan bool) {
 		FlagCount:  uint32(128),
 	}
 
-	connStr, err := filepath.Abs(".test_state/state.gdbm")
-	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "connstr err: %v", err)
-		os.Exit(1)
+	if setDbType == "postgres" {
+		setConnStr = config.DbConn
+		setConnStr, err = updateSearchPath(setConnStr, setDbSchema)
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Println("Error:", err)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+	} else {
+		setConnStr, err = filepath.Abs(setConnStr)
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "connstr err: %v", err)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
 	}
-	conn, err := storage.ToConnData(connStr)
+
+	conn, err := storage.ToConnData(setConnStr)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "connstr parse err: %v", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
+
 	resourceDir := scriptDir
 	menuStorageService := storage.NewMenuStorageService(conn, resourceDir)
 
diff --git a/menutraversal_test/menu_traversal_test.go b/menutraversal_test/menu_traversal_test.go
index 52e2273..4aee26e 100644
--- a/menutraversal_test/menu_traversal_test.go
+++ b/menutraversal_test/menu_traversal_test.go
@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@ import (
 	"flag"
 	"log"
 	"math/rand"
-	"os"
-	"path/filepath"
 	"regexp"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -24,11 +22,9 @@ var (
 )
 
 var groupTestFile = flag.String("test-file", "group_test.json", "The test file to use for running the group tests")
-
-func testStore() string {
-	v, _ :=  filepath.Abs(".test_state/state.gdbm")
-	return v
-}
+var database = flag.String("db", "gdbm", "Specify the database (gdbm or postgres)")
+var connStr = flag.String("conn", ".test_state", "connection string")
+var dbSchema = flag.String("schema", "test", "Specify the database schema (default test)")
 
 func GenerateSessionId() string {
 	uu := uuid.NewGenWithOptions(uuid.WithRandomReader(g))
@@ -84,12 +80,15 @@ func extractSendAmount(response []byte) string {
 }
 
 func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
+	// Parse the flags
+	flag.Parse()
 	sessionID = GenerateSessionId()
-	defer func() {
-		if err := os.RemoveAll(testStore()); err != nil {
-			log.Fatalf("Failed to delete state store %s: %v", testStore(), err)
-		}
-	}()
+	// set the db
+	testutil.SetDatabase(*database, *connStr, *dbSchema)
+
+	// Cleanup the db after tests
+	defer testutil.CleanDatabase()
+
 	m.Run()
 }
 
@@ -126,7 +125,6 @@ func TestAccountCreationSuccessful(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 	<-eventChannel
-
 }
 
 func TestAccountRegistrationRejectTerms(t *testing.T) {