diff --git a/backend/src/main.py b/backend/src/main.py
index 740340f7..901bd49f 100644
--- a/backend/src/main.py
+++ b/backend/src/main.py
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 from typing import Dict
 
 import sentry_sdk
-from dotenv import load_dotenv  # type: ignore
+from dotenv import load_dotenv, find_dotenv  # type: ignore
 from fastapi import FastAPI
 from fastapi.middleware.cors import CORSMiddleware
 from google.api_core.exceptions import AlreadyExists
 from sentry_sdk.integrations.asgi import SentryAsgiMiddleware
 
-load_dotenv()
+load_dotenv(find_dotenv())
 
 # flake8: noqa E402
 
diff --git a/backend/tests/__init__.py b/backend/tests/__init__.py
index 36fc9d3f..8af33a4b 100644
--- a/backend/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/backend/tests/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-from dotenv import load_dotenv  # type: ignore
+from dotenv import load_dotenv, find_dotenv  # type: ignore
 
-load_dotenv(dotenv_path="")
+load_dotenv(find_dotenv(), verbose=True)