diff --git a/packages/backend/src/db/migrations/20230816173027_make_role_id_not_nullable_in_users.ts b/packages/backend/src/db/migrations/20230816173027_make_role_id_not_nullable_in_users.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..41b9bd93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/backend/src/db/migrations/20230816173027_make_role_id_not_nullable_in_users.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+import { Knex } from 'knex';
+
+export async function up(knex: Knex): Promise<void> {
+  const role = await knex('roles')
+    .select('id')
+    .whereIn('key', ['user', 'admin'])
+    .orderBy('key', 'desc')
+    .limit(1)
+    .first();
+
+  if (role) {
+    // backfill nulls
+    await knex('users').whereNull('role_id').update({ role_id: role.id });
+  }
+
+  return await knex.schema.alterTable('users', (table) => {
+    table.uuid('role_id').notNullable().alter();
+  });
+}
+
+export async function down(knex: Knex): Promise<void> {
+  return await knex.schema.alterTable('users', (table) => {
+    table.uuid('role_id').nullable().alter();
+  });
+}