diff --git a/installers/charm/mongodb-exporter/src/pod_spec.py b/installers/charm/mongodb-exporter/src/pod_spec.py
index 781c689..8255b20 100644
--- a/installers/charm/mongodb-exporter/src/pod_spec.py
+++ b/installers/charm/mongodb-exporter/src/pod_spec.py
@@ -122,10 +122,15 @@
     Returns:
         Dict[str, Any]: pod environment configuration.
     """
+    parsed = urlparse(relation_state.get("mongodb_connection_string"))
+
     envconfig = {
-        "MONGODB_URI": relation_state.get("mongodb_connection_string"),
+        "MONGODB_URI": f"mongodb://{parsed.netloc.split(',')[0]}{parsed.path}",
     }
 
+    if parsed.query:
+        envconfig["MONGODB_URI"] += f"?{parsed.query}"
+
     return envconfig
 
 
diff --git a/installers/charm/mongodb-exporter/tests/test_charm.py b/installers/charm/mongodb-exporter/tests/test_charm.py
index 5fc255e..372886b 100644
--- a/installers/charm/mongodb-exporter/tests/test_charm.py
+++ b/installers/charm/mongodb-exporter/tests/test_charm.py
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@
         self.harness = Harness(MongodbExporterCharm)
         self.harness.set_leader(is_leader=True)
         self.harness.begin()
-        self.harness.update_config(self.config)
 
     def test_on_start_without_relations(self) -> NoReturn:
         """Test installation without any relation."""