diff --git a/backend/app/api/routes_checks.py b/backend/app/api/routes_checks.py
index cfbce6e..5a81e50 100644
--- a/backend/app/api/routes_checks.py
+++ b/backend/app/api/routes_checks.py
@@ -115,5 +115,6 @@ def _store_and_respond(db: Session, ctype: str, resource: str, origin_as: str |
     except OperationalError as exc:
         db.rollback()
         if "no column named created_by_user_id" in str(exc).lower():
-            raise HTTPException(status_code=503, detail="Database schema is not up to date. Please run migrations: docker compose exec backend alembic upgrade head") from exc
+            from app.core.system_status import MIGRATION_OPERATOR_GUIDANCE
+            raise HTTPException(status_code=503, detail=MIGRATION_OPERATOR_GUIDANCE) from exc
         raise
diff --git a/backend/app/core/system_status.py b/backend/app/core/system_status.py
index 30d5a19..2177bb1 100644
--- a/backend/app/core/system_status.py
+++ b/backend/app/core/system_status.py
@@ -117,6 +117,24 @@ def get_database_status(engine: Engine | None) -> dict:
     return payload
 
 
+MIGRATION_OPERATOR_GUIDANCE = """Database schema is not up to date.
+
+RouteForge detected that required database migrations have not been applied yet.
+
+Please run:
+
+docker compose exec backend alembic current
+docker compose exec backend alembic heads
+docker compose exec backend alembic upgrade head
+
+If you are using the production compose file, run:
+
+docker compose -f docker-compose.prod.yml exec backend alembic current
+docker compose -f docker-compose.prod.yml exec backend alembic heads
+docker compose -f docker-compose.prod.yml exec backend alembic upgrade head
+
+Then restart RouteForge if needed."""
+
 def _security_warnings() -> list[str]:
     warnings: list[str] = []
     if settings.secret_key == "change-me":
@@ -139,17 +157,8 @@ def build_system_status(engine: Engine | None) -> dict:
     operational_warnings: list[str] = []
     if database.get("migration_status") != "up_to_date":
         operational_warnings.append(
-            "Database schema is behind the application version. Run database migrations before using checks."
+            MIGRATION_OPERATOR_GUIDANCE
         )
-    if database.get("migration_status") == "behind":
-        operational_warnings.extend(
-            [
-                "Run: alembic current",
-                "Run: alembic heads",
-                "Run: alembic upgrade head",
-            ]
-        )
-
     return {
         "status": "ok",
         "name": settings.app_name,