diff --git a/docs/databases/sqlite.md b/docs/databases/sqlite.md
index 01299da65..22883c3d7 100644
--- a/docs/databases/sqlite.md
+++ b/docs/databases/sqlite.md
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ A database module for opsdroid to persist memory in a [SQLite](https://www.sqlit
 ```yaml
 databases:
   sqlite:
-    file: "my_file.db"  # (optional) default "~/.opsdroid/sqlite.db"
+    path: "my_file.db"  # (optional) default "~/.opsdroid/sqlite.db"
     table: "my_table"  # (optional) default "opsdroid"
 ```
 
diff --git a/opsdroid/database/sqlite/__init__.py b/opsdroid/database/sqlite/__init__.py
index 18b9ce08b..d5b2e1473 100644
--- a/opsdroid/database/sqlite/__init__.py
+++ b/opsdroid/database/sqlite/__init__.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 from opsdroid.helper import JSONEncoder, JSONDecoder
 
 _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-CONFIG_SCHEMA = {"file": str, "table": str}
+CONFIG_SCHEMA = {"path": str, "file": str, "table": str}
 
 # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
 # As the current module needs only one public method to register json types
@@ -39,8 +39,14 @@ def __init__(self, config, opsdroid=None):
         self.name = "sqlite"
         self.config = config
         self.conn_args = {"isolation_level": None}
-        self.db_file = None
-        self.table = None
+        if "file" in self.config:
+            self.db_file = self.config["file"]
+            _LOGGER.warn("The option 'file' is deprecated, please use 'path' instead.")
+        else:
+            self.db_file = self.config.get(
+                "path", os.path.join(DEFAULT_ROOT_PATH, "sqlite.db")
+            )
+        self.table = self.config.get("table", "opsdroid")
         _LOGGER.debug(_("Loaded sqlite database connector"))
 
     async def connect(self):
@@ -55,11 +61,6 @@ async def connect(self):
             opsdroid (OpsDroid): An instance of opsdroid core.
 
         """
-        self.db_file = self.config.get(
-            "file", os.path.join(DEFAULT_ROOT_PATH, "sqlite.db")
-        )
-        self.table = self.config.get("table", "opsdroid")
-
         self.client = await aiosqlite.connect(self.db_file, **self.conn_args)
 
         cur = await self.client.cursor()
diff --git a/tests/test_database_sqlite.py b/tests/test_database_sqlite.py
index 2061bbd94..31598c64f 100644
--- a/tests/test_database_sqlite.py
+++ b/tests/test_database_sqlite.py
@@ -25,14 +25,13 @@ def test_init(self):
 
         This method will test the initialisation of the database
         class. It will assert if the database class properties are
-        declared and equated to None.
+        declared.
 
         """
-        database = DatabaseSqlite({"file": "sqlite.db"})
+        database = DatabaseSqlite({"path": "sqlite.db"})
         self.assertEqual(None, database.client)
-        self.assertEqual(None, database.database)
-        self.assertEqual(None, database.db_file)
-        self.assertEqual(None, database.table)
+        self.assertEqual("sqlite.db", database.db_file)
+        self.assertEqual("opsdroid", database.table)
         self.assertEqual({"isolation_level": None}, database.conn_args)
 
 
@@ -50,7 +49,7 @@ async def test_connect(self):
         As the database is created `opsdroid` table is created first.
 
         """
-        database = DatabaseSqlite({"file": "sqlite.db"})
+        database = DatabaseSqlite({"path": "sqlite.db"})
         opsdroid = amock.CoroutineMock()
         opsdroid.eventloop = self.loop
 
@@ -71,7 +70,7 @@ async def test_disconnect(self):
         This method will test the database disconnection of sqlite database.
 
         """
-        database = DatabaseSqlite({"file": "sqlite.db"})
+        database = DatabaseSqlite({"path": "sqlite.db"})
         opsdroid = amock.CoroutineMock()
         opsdroid.eventloop = self.loop
 
@@ -92,7 +91,7 @@ async def test_get_put_and_delete(self):
         followed by the `delete` operation which deletes the key.
 
         """
-        database = DatabaseSqlite({"file": "sqlite.db"})
+        database = DatabaseSqlite({"path": "sqlite.db"})
         opsdroid = amock.CoroutineMock()
         opsdroid.eventloop = self.loop
 
@@ -110,3 +109,7 @@ async def test_get_put_and_delete(self):
             self.assertEqual("opsdroid", table)
             self.assertEqual({}, data)
             self.assertEqual("Connection", client)
+
+    async def test_deprecated_path(self):
+        database = DatabaseSqlite({"file": "sqlite.db"})
+        assert database.db_file == "sqlite.db"