diff --git a/lib/metasploit/framework/require.rb b/lib/metasploit/framework/require.rb
index 8f398aa355..0196565d60 100644
--- a/lib/metasploit/framework/require.rb
+++ b/lib/metasploit/framework/require.rb
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ module Metasploit
       #
       # @return [void]
       def self.optionally_active_record_railtie
-        if ::File.exist?(Rails.application.config.paths['config/database'].first)
+        if ::File.exist?('config/database.yml')
           optionally(
             'active_record/railtie',
             'activerecord not in the bundle, so database support will be disabled.'
diff --git a/spec/spec_helper.rb b/spec/spec_helper.rb
index 29cd25fa70..b2986a4e37 100644
--- a/spec/spec_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/spec_helper.rb
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ end
 # Must be explicit as activerecord is optional dependency
 require 'active_record/railtie'
 
+unless File.exist?('config/database.yml')
+  fail 'RSPEC currently needs a configured database'
+end
+
 require File.expand_path('../../config/environment', __FILE__)
 
 # Don't `require 'rspec/rails'` as it includes support for pieces of rails that metasploit-framework doesn't use