diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 80f8791a..65f82a9d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -173,6 +173,10 @@ make frontend-test
 make frontend-lint
 ```
 
+Backend tests can be run without docker with the env files
+`env.d/development/common` and `env.d/development/common.test`.
+`common.test` must overwrite some variables in `common`.
+
 ### Demo content
 
 Create a basic demo site:
diff --git a/env.d/development/common.test b/env.d/development/common.test
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..476a0d6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/env.d/development/common.test
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# Test environment configuration for running tests without docker
+# Base configuration is loaded from 'common' file
+
+DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE=impress.settings
+DJANGO_CONFIGURATION=Test
+DB_PORT=15432
+AWS_S3_ENDPOINT_URL=http://localhost:9000
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