diff --git a/backend/.eslintrc.js b/backend/.eslintrc.js
index 9c1097f53..416a5b96f 100644
--- a/backend/.eslintrc.js
+++ b/backend/.eslintrc.js
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ module.exports = {
       parserOptions: {
         tsconfigRootDir: __dirname,
         project: ['./tsconfig.json'],
+        // this is to properly reference the referenced project database without requirement of compiling it
+        EXPERIMENTAL_useSourceOfProjectReferenceRedirect: true,
       },
     },
   ],