diff --git a/.changeset/beige-pets-yell.md b/.changeset/beige-pets-yell.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d7b8c3b01a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/beige-pets-yell.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"create-t3-app": patch
+---
+
+fix: `start-database.sh` is marked optional
diff --git a/cli/src/helpers/logNextSteps.ts b/cli/src/helpers/logNextSteps.ts
index 60df878de7..98cedfbc74 100644
--- a/cli/src/helpers/logNextSteps.ts
+++ b/cli/src/helpers/logNextSteps.ts
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ export const logNextSteps = async ({
   }
 
   if (["postgres", "mysql"].includes(databaseProvider)) {
-    logger.info("  ./start-database.sh");
+    logger.info("  Start up a database, if needed using './start-database.sh'");
   }
 
   if (packages?.prisma.inUse || packages?.drizzle.inUse) {