diff --git a/swh/core/cli/db.py b/swh/core/cli/db.py
--- a/swh/core/cli/db.py
+++ b/swh/core/cli/db.py
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@
 
     """
     from swh.core.db.db_utils import create_database_for_package
+
     logger.debug("db_create %s dn_name=%s", module, dbname)
     create_database_for_package(module, dbname, template)
 
@@ -117,6 +118,7 @@
 
     """
     from swh.core.db.db_utils import init_admin_extensions
+
     logger.debug("db_init_admin %s dbname=%s", module, dbname)
     init_admin_extensions(module, dbname)
 
@@ -128,13 +130,14 @@
     "--db-name",
     "-d",
     help="Database name.",
-    default="softwareheritage-dev",
-    show_default=True,
+    default=None,
+    show_default=False,
 )
 @click.option(
     "--flavor", help="Database flavor.", default=None,
 )
-def db_init(module, dbname, flavor):
+@click.pass_context
+def db_init(ctx, module, dbname, flavor):
     """Initialize a database for the Software Heritage <module>.
 
     Example::
@@ -154,6 +157,18 @@
     """
     from swh.core.db.db_utils import populate_database_for_package
 
+    if dbname is None:
+        # use the db cnx from the config file; the expected config entry is the
+        # given module name
+        cfg = ctx.obj["config"].get(module, {})
+        dbname = get_dburl_from_config(cfg)
+
+    if not dbname:
+        raise click.BadParameter(
+            "Missing the postgresql connection configuration. Either fix your "
+            "configuration file or use the --dbname option."
+        )
+
     logger.debug("db_init %s flavor=%s dbname=%s", module, flavor, dbname)
 
     initialized, dbversion, dbflavor = populate_database_for_package(