diff --git a/internal/restore/safety.go b/internal/restore/safety.go
index d478aa5..6cc3a8b 100644
--- a/internal/restore/safety.go
+++ b/internal/restore/safety.go
@@ -297,16 +297,24 @@ func (s *Safety) CheckDatabaseExists(ctx context.Context, dbName string) (bool,
 
 // checkPostgresDatabaseExists checks if PostgreSQL database exists
 func (s *Safety) checkPostgresDatabaseExists(ctx context.Context, dbName string) (bool, error) {
-	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx,
-		"psql",
-		"-h", s.cfg.Host,
+	args := []string{
 		"-p", fmt.Sprintf("%d", s.cfg.Port),
 		"-U", s.cfg.User,
 		"-d", "postgres",
 		"-tAc", fmt.Sprintf("SELECT 1 FROM pg_database WHERE datname='%s'", dbName),
-	)
+	}
+	
+	// Only add -h flag if host is not localhost (to use Unix socket for peer auth)
+	if s.cfg.Host != "localhost" && s.cfg.Host != "127.0.0.1" && s.cfg.Host != "" {
+		args = append([]string{"-h", s.cfg.Host}, args...)
+	}
+	
+	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "psql", args...)
 
-	cmd.Env = append(os.Environ(), fmt.Sprintf("PGPASSWORD=%s", s.cfg.Password))
+	// Set password if provided
+	if s.cfg.Password != "" {
+		cmd.Env = append(os.Environ(), fmt.Sprintf("PGPASSWORD=%s", s.cfg.Password))
+	}
 
 	output, err := cmd.Output()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -354,17 +362,25 @@ func (s *Safety) listPostgresUserDatabases(ctx context.Context) ([]string, error
 	// Query to get non-template databases excluding 'postgres' system DB
 	query := "SELECT datname FROM pg_database WHERE datistemplate = false AND datname != 'postgres' ORDER BY datname"
 	
-	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx,
-		"psql",
-		"-h", s.cfg.Host,
+	args := []string{
 		"-p", fmt.Sprintf("%d", s.cfg.Port),
 		"-U", s.cfg.User,
 		"-d", "postgres",
 		"-tA", // Tuples only, unaligned
 		"-c", query,
-	)
+	}
+	
+	// Only add -h flag if host is not localhost (to use Unix socket for peer auth)
+	if s.cfg.Host != "localhost" && s.cfg.Host != "127.0.0.1" && s.cfg.Host != "" {
+		args = append([]string{"-h", s.cfg.Host}, args...)
+	}
+	
+	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "psql", args...)
 
-	cmd.Env = append(os.Environ(), fmt.Sprintf("PGPASSWORD=%s", s.cfg.Password))
+	// Set password if provided
+	if s.cfg.Password != "" {
+		cmd.Env = append(os.Environ(), fmt.Sprintf("PGPASSWORD=%s", s.cfg.Password))
+	}
 
 	output, err := cmd.Output()
 	if err != nil {