diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5ae8870b..8a12d0d8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -47,13 +47,10 @@ get Elasticsearch to work.
 
 To start the database
 ```sh
-# create a directory for all data
-mkdir -p database
-
-# let the database be the owner of the folder
+# let the elasticsearch user and group be the owner of the folder
 chown 100:101 database
 
-# start the database
+# start the database container
 docker-compose up -d database
 
 # have a look at the logs of the database
@@ -67,7 +64,7 @@ As stated in the `docker-compose.yml` the database will expose port `9200` to ot
 The backend is providing an interface to search and bulk index data into the database. Simply run:
 
 ```sh
-# start the backend
+# start the backend container
 docker-compose up -d backend
 
 # have a look at the logs of the backend
diff --git a/database/.gitkeep b/database/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/start.sh b/start.sh
index 769c7e3b..98980d39 100755
--- a/start.sh
+++ b/start.sh
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ if [ "$ACTUAL_MAX_MAP_COUNT" -lt "$MINIMAL_MAX_MAP_COUNT" ]; then
   done
 fi
 
-mkdir -p database
 $SUDO chown 100:101 database
 
 cat <<EOF