diff --git a/common/deploy_scripts/test_run_athena.sh b/common/deploy_scripts/test_run_athena.sh
index 07ed5950..2248442f 100755
--- a/common/deploy_scripts/test_run_athena.sh
+++ b/common/deploy_scripts/test_run_athena.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 # export these values so the subshell running athena will be able to see them
 export HOST_URL="${HOST_URL:=http://localhost:3000}"
-export DB_SYSTEM="${DB_SYSTEM:=athena-systems}"
+export DB_SYSTEM="${DB_SYSTEM:=athena-system}"
 export DB_CONNECTION_STRING="${DB_CONNECTION_STRING:=http://localhost:5984}"
 
 echo "HOST_URL=$HOST_URL"
diff --git a/docker/docker-compose-console.yaml b/docker/docker-compose-console.yaml
index 0c976b52..d2576998 100644
--- a/docker/docker-compose-console.yaml
+++ b/docker/docker-compose-console.yaml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ services:
         environment:
             - CONFIGURE_FILE=./env/config.yaml
             - DB_CONNECTION_STRING=http://admin:password@console-couchdb:5984
-            - DB_SYSTEM=athena-systems
+            - DB_SYSTEM=athena-system
         networks:
             - test
 
diff --git a/packages/athena/README.md b/packages/athena/README.md
index 07f9e140..52534f14 100644
--- a/packages/athena/README.md
+++ b/packages/athena/README.md
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ Create a file called `dev.json` in the `env` directory with the following conten
 ```json
 {
     "DB_CONNECTION_STRING": "http://localhost:5984",
-    "DB_SYSTEM": "athena-systems",
+    "DB_SYSTEM": "athena-system",
     "CONFIGURE_FILE": "./env/my_config.yaml"
 }
 ```
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ are included in the Athena repository as git submodules.
     > cat env/dev.json
     {
         "DB_CONNECTION_STRING": "http://localhost:5984",
-        "DB_SYSTEM": "athena-systems",
+        "DB_SYSTEM": "athena-system",
         "CONFIGURE_FILE": "./env/my_config.yaml"
     }
 
diff --git a/packages/athena/docs/db_backup_apis.md b/packages/athena/docs/db_backup_apis.md
index 543eae39..a39c2c84 100644
--- a/packages/athena/docs/db_backup_apis.md
+++ b/packages/athena/docs/db_backup_apis.md
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ Get the contents of a backup doc including attachments.
 			"last_sequence": "...",
 			"docs": []
 		},
-		"athena-systems": {
+		"athena-system": {
 			"start_timestamp": 1592922858740,
 			"finish_timestamp": 1592922861261,
 			"last_sequence": "...",
diff --git a/packages/athena/docs/other_apis.md b/packages/athena/docs/other_apis.md
index fa462b72..2d77113b 100644
--- a/packages/athena/docs/other_apis.md
+++ b/packages/athena/docs/other_apis.md
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ See public Optools configuration settings.
 	"CLUSTER_DATA": {
 		"type": "paid"
 	},
-	"DB_SYSTEM": "athena-systems", // name of settings/tx database
+	"DB_SYSTEM": "athena-system", // name of settings/tx database
 	"DEPLOYER_TIMEOUT": 90000, // deployer http timeout in ms
 	"DEPLOYER_URL": "something",
 	"DOMAIN": null, // domain athena is using for cookies, should match url in browser
diff --git a/packages/athena/env/README.md b/packages/athena/env/README.md
index 233b3256..10374105 100644
--- a/packages/athena/env/README.md
+++ b/packages/athena/env/README.md
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ __Example:__
 "DB_CONNECTION_STRING": "https://username:password@localhost:5984", // required
 
 // The name of the database that contains the settings doc
-"DB_SYSTEM": "athena-systems",     // required unless "db_custom_names" is used in config file
+"DB_SYSTEM": "athena-system",     // required unless "db_custom_names" is used in config file
 
 
 // ****** Optional Fields ******
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ __default_settings_doc.json:__
 "db_custom_names": {
   "DB_COMPONENTS": "athena-components",
   "DB_SESSIONS": "athena-sessions",
-  "DB_SYSTEM": "athena-systems"
+  "DB_SYSTEM": "athena-system"
 },
 
 // default database configuration - do not modify
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ __default_settings_doc.json:__
 			"../json_docs/default_settings_doc.json",
 					"../json_docs/system_design_doc.json"
 		],
-		"name": "athena-systems"
+		"name": "athena-system"
 	}
 },
 
diff --git a/packages/athena/env/dev.json b/packages/athena/env/dev.json
index 36b5a343..bfdfb716 100644
--- a/packages/athena/env/dev.json
+++ b/packages/athena/env/dev.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
     "DB_CONNECTION_STRING": "http://admin:admin@localhost:5984",
-    "DB_SYSTEM": "athena-systems",
+    "DB_SYSTEM": "athena-system",
     "CONFIGURE_FILE": "./env/my_config.yaml"
 }
diff --git a/packages/athena/json_docs/default_settings_doc.json b/packages/athena/json_docs/default_settings_doc.json
index 5671bcde..400baa6e 100644
--- a/packages/athena/json_docs/default_settings_doc.json
+++ b/packages/athena/json_docs/default_settings_doc.json
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 	"db_custom_names": {
 		"DB_COMPONENTS": "athena-components",
 		"DB_SESSIONS": "athena-sessions",
-		"DB_SYSTEM": "athena-systems"
+		"DB_SYSTEM": "athena-system"
 	},
 	"db_defaults": {
 		"DB_COMPONENTS": {
diff --git a/packages/athena/libs/migration_lib.js b/packages/athena/libs/migration_lib.js
index dfdbd2cf..c587d1da 100644
--- a/packages/athena/libs/migration_lib.js
+++ b/packages/athena/libs/migration_lib.js
@@ -1252,9 +1252,8 @@ module.exports = function (logger, ev, t) {
 							}
 						}
 
-						// dsh todo remove me
-						logger.silly('settings doc:', JSON.stringify(doc, null, 2));
-
+						logger.silly('built settings "db_custom_names":', JSON.stringify(doc.db_custom_names, null, 2));
+						logger.silly('built settings "db_defaults":', JSON.stringify(doc.db_defaults, null, 2));
 						break;
 					}
 				}
diff --git a/packages/athena/libs/settings.js b/packages/athena/libs/settings.js
index 909d8251..929c2c49 100644
--- a/packages/athena/libs/settings.js
+++ b/packages/athena/libs/settings.js
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ module.exports = function (logger, t, noInterval, noAutoRun) {
 				settings.HOST_URL = process.env.HOST_URL || athena.host_url;			// the external url to reach this application
 				settings.REGION = process.env.REGION || athena.region;
 				settings.db_defaults = athena.db_defaults;
-				load_database_names(athena.db_defaults);							// load all db names here
+				load_database_names(athena);										// load all db names here
 				settings.ENFORCE_BACKEND_SSL = athena.enforce_backend_ssl;			// should we check certs or not, server side
 				settings.ACCESS_LIST = lowercase_key_values(athena.access_list);	// athena access list
 				settings.INITIAL_ADMIN = athena.initial_admin;
@@ -561,12 +561,26 @@ module.exports = function (logger, t, noInterval, noAutoRun) {
 		}
 
 		// load each database name
-		function load_database_names(dbs) {
+		// this sets setting fields: DB_COMPONENTS, & DB_SESSIONS
+		function load_database_names(settings_doc) {
+			const dbs = settings_doc.db_defaults;
+			const db_custom_names = settings_doc.db_custom_names;
 			if (dbs) {
-				for (let db_const in dbs) {
-					if (dbs[db_const].name) {			// set it if if a db name is set
-						settings[db_const] = dbs[db_const].name;
-						db_names.push(dbs[db_const].name);
+				for (let db_name in dbs) {
+					if (db_name !== 'DB_SYSTEM') {				// the system db should be left driven by process.env.DB_SYSTEM
+						if (dbs[db_name].name) {
+							let name2use = dbs[db_name].name;
+							if (db_custom_names && db_custom_names[db_name] && typeof db_custom_names[db_name] === 'string') {
+								name2use = db_custom_names[db_name];
+							}
+
+							if (settings[db_name] !== name2use) {	// if its changed, log it
+								logger.debug('[settings] custom db name:', db_name, '->', db_custom_names[db_name]);
+							}
+
+							settings[db_name] = name2use;
+							db_names.push(name2use);
+						}
 					}
 				}
 			}
@@ -710,7 +724,7 @@ module.exports = function (logger, t, noInterval, noAutoRun) {
 			logger.error('---------------------------------------------------------\n');
 			return cb({ error: 'missing vars', details: errors });
 		} else {
-			logger.info('[settings] final env variables look good!');
+			//logger.info('[settings] final env variables look good!');
 			return cb(null);
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/packages/athena/scripts/create_databases.js b/packages/athena/scripts/create_databases.js
index 7ebf6c51..9aebe716 100644
--- a/packages/athena/scripts/create_databases.js
+++ b/packages/athena/scripts/create_databases.js
@@ -22,40 +22,34 @@ module.exports = (logger, t) => {
 	const couch_lib = t.couch_lib;
 
 	setup.createDatabasesAndDesignDocs = (cb) => {
-		const config_map = require('../json_docs/default_settings_doc.json').db_defaults;
+		const config_map = require('../json_docs/default_settings_doc.json').db_defaults;	// init with the defaults
 		const db_custom_names = require('../json_docs/default_settings_doc.json').db_custom_names;
 
 		const errs = [];
 
 		// check if config file db names are replacing names in the default file
 		for (let db in config_map) {									// copy config file setting -> default doc
+			let name2use = '';
 
-			// first load custom names from settings file
+			// first look for custom names in default settings file
 			if (db_custom_names && db_custom_names[db] && typeof db_custom_names[db] === 'string') {
-				if (db === 'DB_SYSTEM') {								// if its not already set, stuff it into env too
-					if (!process.env['DB_SYSTEM']) {					// (env setting should override config)
-						logger.debug('[default file] custom db name:', db, '=', db_custom_names[db]);
-						process.env['DB_SYSTEM'] = db_custom_names[db];
-					}
-					config_map['DB_SYSTEM'].name = process.env['DB_SYSTEM'];
-				} else {
-					logger.debug('[default file] custom db name:', db, '=', db_custom_names[db]);
-					config_map[db].name = db_custom_names[db];
-				}
+				name2use = db_custom_names[db];
 			}
 
-			// then config file
+			// then look for custom names in the config file
 			if (t.config_file && t.config_file.db_custom_names && t.config_file.db_custom_names[db] && typeof t.config_file.db_custom_names[db] === 'string') {
-				if (db === 'DB_SYSTEM') {								// if its not already set, stuff it into env too
-					if (!process.env['DB_SYSTEM']) {					// (env setting should override config)
-						logger.debug('[config file] custom db name:', db, '=', t.config_file.db_custom_names[db]);
-						process.env['DB_SYSTEM'] = t.config_file.db_custom_names[db];
-					}
-					config_map['DB_SYSTEM'].name = process.env['DB_SYSTEM'];
-				} else {
-					logger.debug('[config file] custom db name:', db, '=', t.config_file.db_custom_names[db]);
-					config_map[db].name = t.config_file.db_custom_names[db];
-				}
+				name2use = t.config_file.db_custom_names[db];
+			}
+
+			// then env
+			if (process.env[db]) {
+				name2use = process.env[db];							// an env setting should override config
+			}
+
+			if (name2use) {
+				logger.debug('[db startup] custom db name:', db, '=', name2use);
+				config_map[db].name = name2use;
+				process.env[db] = name2use;							// stuff it into env too
 			}
 		}