diff --git a/.example-env b/.example-env
index dc7f8a3e..f547b8c6 100644
--- a/.example-env
+++ b/.example-env
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-export RAILS_ENV='development'
-
 export DB_USERNAME='postgres'
 export DB_PASSWORD='3112'
 export DB_HOST='localhost'
diff --git a/config/application.rb b/config/application.rb
index 93bdb8bf..399b32c9 100644
--- a/config/application.rb
+++ b/config/application.rb
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 require File.expand_path('../boot', __FILE__)
 
 require 'rails/all'
+require 'dotenv'
 
 Bundler.require(*Rails.groups)
 
+ENV["RAILS_ENV"] ||= ENV["RACK_ENV"] || "development"
+Dotenv.load ".env.#{ENV["RAILS_ENV"]}", '.env'
+
 module Metamaps
   class Application < Rails::Application
     # Settings in config/environments/* take precedence over those specified here.