diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr-backdrop-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/pr-backdrop-tests.yml
index 83c06d4..87be1ad 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr-backdrop-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr-backdrop-tests.yml
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ jobs:
         leia-test:
           - examples/backdrop-custom
           - examples/backdrop-defaults
+          - examples/backdrop-downstreamer-1
+          - examples/backdrop-downstreamer-2
           - examples/backdrop-export
           - examples/backdrop-import
           - examples/backdrop-init
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 93e1801..0cfe5c8 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+## v1.2.1 - [March 4, 2024](https://github.com/lando/backdrop/releases/tag/v1.2.1)
+
+### Fixes
+
+* Improved `database` selection for purposes of `config` loading, fixes some `database` bootup issues when the `database` type is overriden downstream
+
 ## v1.2.0 - [February 24, 2024](https://github.com/lando/backdrop/releases/tag/v1.2.0)
 
 ### New Features
diff --git a/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-1/.lando.yml b/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-1/.lando.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f51a385
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-1/.lando.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+name: backdrop-downstreamer-1
+recipe: backdrop
+
+services:
+  database:
+    type: mysql:8.0
+
+# do not remove this
+plugins:
+  "@lando/backdrop": ../..
+  "@lando/mysql": ../../node_modules/@lando/mysql
diff --git a/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-1/README.md b/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-1/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3d8af9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-1/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# Backdrop Downstreamer Example
+
+This example exists primarily to test the following documentation:
+
+* [Backdrop Recipe](https://docs.lando.dev/backdrop/config.html)
+
+Start up tests
+--------------
+
+Run the following commands to get up and running with this example.
+
+```bash
+# Should start up successfully
+lando poweroff
+lando start
+```
+
+Verification commands
+---------------------
+
+Run the following commands to validate things are rolling as they should.
+
+```bash
+# Should be using mysql8
+lando mysql -V | grep 8.0
+
+# Should use the default database connection info
+lando mysql -ubackdrop -pbackdrop backdrop -e quit
+
+# Should use the defauly mysql8 config file
+lando ssh -s database -c "cat /opt/bitnami/mysql/conf/my_custom.cnf" | grep "LANDOBACKDROPMYSQL8CNF"
+lando mysql -u root -e "show variables;" | grep innodb_lock_wait_timeout | grep 127
+```
+
+Destroy tests
+-------------
+
+Run the following commands to trash this app like nothing ever happened.
+
+```bash
+# Should be destroyed with success
+lando destroy -y
+lando poweroff
+```
diff --git a/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-1/index.php b/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-1/index.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f39d159
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-1/index.php
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+DEFAULTS
diff --git a/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-1/info.php b/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-1/info.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..147cebc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-1/info.php
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<?php phpinfo(); ?>
diff --git a/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-2/.lando.yml b/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-2/.lando.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a85df65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-2/.lando.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+name: backdrop-downstreamer-2
+recipe: backdrop
+
+services:
+  database:
+    type: backdrop-mysql:8.0
+
+# do not remove this
+plugins:
+  "@lando/backdrop": ../..
+  "@lando/mysql": ../../node_modules/@lando/mysql
diff --git a/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-2/README.md b/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-2/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3d8af9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-2/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# Backdrop Downstreamer Example
+
+This example exists primarily to test the following documentation:
+
+* [Backdrop Recipe](https://docs.lando.dev/backdrop/config.html)
+
+Start up tests
+--------------
+
+Run the following commands to get up and running with this example.
+
+```bash
+# Should start up successfully
+lando poweroff
+lando start
+```
+
+Verification commands
+---------------------
+
+Run the following commands to validate things are rolling as they should.
+
+```bash
+# Should be using mysql8
+lando mysql -V | grep 8.0
+
+# Should use the default database connection info
+lando mysql -ubackdrop -pbackdrop backdrop -e quit
+
+# Should use the defauly mysql8 config file
+lando ssh -s database -c "cat /opt/bitnami/mysql/conf/my_custom.cnf" | grep "LANDOBACKDROPMYSQL8CNF"
+lando mysql -u root -e "show variables;" | grep innodb_lock_wait_timeout | grep 127
+```
+
+Destroy tests
+-------------
+
+Run the following commands to trash this app like nothing ever happened.
+
+```bash
+# Should be destroyed with success
+lando destroy -y
+lando poweroff
+```
diff --git a/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-2/index.php b/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-2/index.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f39d159
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-2/index.php
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+DEFAULTS
diff --git a/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-2/info.php b/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-2/info.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..147cebc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/backdrop-downstreamer-2/info.php
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<?php phpinfo(); ?>
diff --git a/utils/get-config-defaults.js b/utils/get-config-defaults.js
index dcaeea3..9774eb1 100644
--- a/utils/get-config-defaults.js
+++ b/utils/get-config-defaults.js
@@ -4,15 +4,22 @@
 const _ = require('lodash');
 const fs = require('fs');
 
+/*
+ * Helper to get database type
+ */
+const getDatabaseType = options => {
+  return _.get(options, '_app.config.services.database.type', options.database) ?? 'mysql';
+};
+
 module.exports = options => {
   // Get the viaconf
   if (_.startsWith(options.via, 'nginx')) options.defaultFiles.vhosts = 'default.conf.tpl';
 
   // Get the default db conf
-  const dbConfig = _.get(options, 'database', 'mysql');
+  const dbConfig = getDatabaseType(options);
   const database = _.first(dbConfig.split(':'));
   const version = _.last(dbConfig.split(':')).substring(0, 2);
-  if (database === 'mysql' || database === 'mariadb') {
+  if (database === 'backdrop-mysql' || database === 'mysql' || database === 'mariadb') {
     if (version === '8.') {
       options.defaultFiles.database = 'mysql8.cnf';
     } else {