diff --git a/dataimporter/importer.py b/dataimporter/importer.py
index 47a1ea5..c17747f 100644
--- a/dataimporter/importer.py
+++ b/dataimporter/importer.py
@@ -63,7 +63,9 @@ def __init__(self, config: Config):
         self.config = config
         # client for mongo and elasticsearch via Splitgill
         self.client = SplitgillClient(
-            config.get_mongo_client(), config.get_elasticsearch_client()
+            config.get_mongo_client(),
+            config.get_elasticsearch_client(),
+            config.get_mongo_database_name(),
         )
 
         # make sure the data path exists
diff --git a/dataimporter/lib/config.py b/dataimporter/lib/config.py
index 3910fbc..d88c3f2 100644
--- a/dataimporter/lib/config.py
+++ b/dataimporter/lib/config.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ def get_client(self) -> Elasticsearch:
 class MongoConfig:
     host: str = "localhost"
     port: int = 27017
+    database: str = "sg"
 
     def get_client(self) -> MongoClient:
         return MongoClient(self.host, self.port)
@@ -60,6 +61,9 @@ def get_elasticsearch_client(self) -> Elasticsearch:
     def get_mongo_client(self) -> MongoClient:
         return self.mongo_config.get_client()
 
+    def get_mongo_database_name(self) -> str:
+        return self.mongo_config.database
+
 
 class ConfigLoadError(Exception):
     def __init__(self, reason: str):