diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 35a1b208..c05eb546 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ version: '3.8'
 
 services:
   app:
+    environment: 
+        - DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE=mlarchive.settings.settings_docker
     build:
       context: .
       dockerfile: docker/app.Dockerfile
diff --git a/docker/configs/docker_env b/docker/configs/docker_env
index 83a97447..6aa035b0 100644
--- a/docker/configs/docker_env
+++ b/docker/configs/docker_env
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # DJANGO SETTINGS
 DEBUG=True
-SERVER_MODE=development
+SERVER_MODE=development-localauth
 SECRET_KEY='j&-5nu4sa!dcg2gnkc8tr3($4$)6&i1(!$ju7v50+t-#6jyh7e'
 DATABASES_NAME=mailarch
 DATABASES_USER=django
diff --git a/docker/configs/settings_docker.py b/docker/configs/settings_docker.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..abc72490
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docker/configs/settings_docker.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+# settings/settings_rebuild.py
+from .base import *
+
+AUTHENTICATION_BACKENDS = ["django.contrib.auth.backends.ModelBackend"]
+
diff --git a/docker/scripts/app-init.sh b/docker/scripts/app-init.sh
index dd5ab868..fd44f2ae 100755
--- a/docker/scripts/app-init.sh
+++ b/docker/scripts/app-init.sh
@@ -34,6 +34,14 @@ else
     fi
 fi
 
+if [ ! -f "$WORKSPACEDIR/backend/mlarchive/settings/settings_docker.py" ]; then
+    echo "Setting up a default settings_docker.py ..."
+else
+    echo "Renaming existing backend/mlarchive/settings/settings_docker.py to backend/mlarchive/settings/settings_docker.py.bak"
+    mv -f $WORKSPACEDIR/backend/mlarchive/settings/settings_docker.py $WORKSPACEDIR/backend/mlarchive/settings/settings_docker.py.bak
+fi
+cp $WORKSPACEDIR/docker/configs/settings_docker.py $WORKSPACEDIR/backend/mlarchive/settings/settings_docker.py
+
 # Create data directories
 echo "Creating data directories..."
 for sub in \