diff --git a/postgres/standby_setup.sh b/postgres/standby_setup.sh
index 634d899..2f29e53 100644
--- a/postgres/standby_setup.sh
+++ b/postgres/standby_setup.sh
@@ -7,12 +7,15 @@ if [ ! -s "$PGDATA/PG_VERSION" ]; then
 
 	# get a binary backup of the database on $MASTER_NODE
 	pg_basebackup -d "host=$MASTER_NODE password='$REPLICATION_PASSWORD' port=5432 user=$REPLICATION_USER" -D ${PGDATA} -vP
-	
-	cat > ${PGDATA}/recovery.conf <<-EOF
-	standby_mode = on
+
+	# indicate postgres should start in hot standby mode
+	touch "$PGDATA/standby.signal"
+
+	# write replication settings to config file
+	cat >> ${PGDATA}/postgresql.conf <<-EOF
 	primary_conninfo = 'host=$MASTER_NODE password=\\'$REPLICATION_PASSWORD\\' port=5432 user=$REPLICATION_USER'
 	# touch this file to promote this node to master
-	trigger_file = '/tmp/touch_to_promote_to_master'
+	promote_trigger_file = '/tmp/touch_to_promote_to_master'
 	EOF
 
 	chown postgres. ${PGDATA} -R