diff --git a/buffer_clone_backend/settings.py b/buffer_clone_backend/settings.py
index 9c5ddc4..2fb6ed0 100644
--- a/buffer_clone_backend/settings.py
+++ b/buffer_clone_backend/settings.py
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/5.0/ref/settings/
 
 from pathlib import Path
 import os
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+
+load_dotenv()
 
 # Build paths inside the project like this: BASE_DIR / 'subdir'.
 BASE_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent