diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index ee5dcdd3..67833754 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -30,6 +30,20 @@
             rustfmt
           ];
         RUST_SRC_PATH = "${pkgs.rustPlatform.rustLibSrc}";
+
+        shellHook = ''
+          echo >&2 "Setting development database path"
+          export ATUIN_DB_PATH="/tmp/atuin_dev.db"
+          export ATUIN_RECORD_STORE_PATH="/tmp/atuin_records.db"
+
+          if [ -e "''${ATUIN_DB_PATH}" ]; then
+            echo >&2 "''${ATUIN_DB_PATH} already exists, you might want to double-check that"
+          fi
+
+          if [ -e "''${ATUIN_RECORD_STORE_PATH}" ]; then
+            echo >&2 "''${ATUIN_RECORD_STORE_PATH} already exists, you might want to double-check that"
+          fi
+        '';
       });
     })
     // {