diff --git a/scripts/setup.cfg.sample b/scripts/setup.cfg.sample
index 4194bc146d..450b9c30a3 100644
--- a/scripts/setup.cfg.sample
+++ b/scripts/setup.cfg.sample
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 # Base database name; full name will include nickname
 
+export DBHOST=masterdb.example.net
 export DBBASE=_example_net
 export USERBASE=_example_net
 export ADMIN=root
diff --git a/scripts/setup_status_network.sh b/scripts/setup_status_network.sh
index d80612b940..e1d14593fb 100755
--- a/scripts/setup_status_network.sh
+++ b/scripts/setup_status_network.sh
@@ -11,13 +11,13 @@ export username=$nickname$USERBASE
 
 # Create the db
 
-mysqladmin -u $ADMIN --password=$ADMINPASS create $database
+mysqladmin -h $DBHOST -u $ADMIN --password=$ADMINPASS create $database
 
 for f in laconica.sql sms_carrier.sql foreign_services.sql notice_source.sql; do
-    mysql -u $ADMIN --password=$ADMINPASS $database < ../db/$f;
+    mysql -h $DBHOST -u $ADMIN --password=$ADMINPASS $database < ../db/$f;
 done
 
-mysql -u $ADMIN --password=$ADMINPASS $SITEDB << ENDOFCOMMANDS
+mysql -h $DBHOST -u $ADMIN --password=$ADMINPASS $SITEDB << ENDOFCOMMANDS
 
 GRANT INSERT,SELECT,UPDATE,DELETE ON $database.* TO '$username'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY '$password';
 GRANT INSERT,SELECT,UPDATE,DELETE ON $database.* TO '$username'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY '$password';