diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 6f340a9..7db6f72 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ hedy_admin_user: ~
 hedy_user_username: hedy
 hedy_user_groupname: hedy
 hedy_base_path: /home/hedy
-hedy_data_path: /home/hedy/data
+hedy_data_path: "{{ hedy_base_path }}/data"
 
 # Building. Default is to build on the target. To build elsewhere,
 # change host ('localhost' for Ansible host) and perhaps path.
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index 0592086..5fee084 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -17,6 +17,15 @@
     - {path: "{{ hedy_data_path }}", when: true}
   when: "item.when | bool"
 
+- name: Ensure database file exists before mounting it
+  ansible.builtin.copy:
+    force: false
+    content: ""
+    dest: "{{ hedy_data_path }}/dev_database.json"
+    mode: 0600
+    owner: "{{ hedy_user_username }}"
+    group: "{{ hedy_user_groupname }}"
+
 - delegate_to: "{{ hedy_builder_host }}"
   when: "hedy_pull and hedy_container_image_self_build | bool"
   become: true