diff --git a/highscore/app/config.py b/highscore/app/config.py
index 3a4861e..a71be77 100644
--- a/highscore/app/config.py
+++ b/highscore/app/config.py
@@ -6,7 +6,11 @@ BASE_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
 
 
 class Settings(BaseSettings):
-    model_config = SettingsConfigDict(env_file=BASE_DIR / ".env", env_file_encoding="utf-8")
+    _env_file = BASE_DIR / ".env"
+    model_config = SettingsConfigDict(
+        env_file=_env_file if _env_file.exists() else None,
+        env_file_encoding="utf-8",
+    )
 
     django_secret_key: str = ""
     debug: bool = True