diff --git a/api/config/settings/local.py b/api/config/settings/local.py
index 70fb5a21e..b1674f46d 100644
--- a/api/config/settings/local.py
+++ b/api/config/settings/local.py
@@ -152,3 +152,6 @@ REST_FRAMEWORK.update(
         ],
     }
 )
+
+# allows makemigrations and superuser creation
+FORCE = env("FORCE", default=1)
diff --git a/api/funkwhale_api/common/management/commands/createsuperuser.py b/api/funkwhale_api/common/management/commands/createsuperuser.py
index 49a59753f..244a280b9 100644
--- a/api/funkwhale_api/common/management/commands/createsuperuser.py
+++ b/api/funkwhale_api/common/management/commands/createsuperuser.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import os
-
+from django.conf import settings
 from django.contrib.auth.management.commands.createsuperuser import (
     Command as BaseCommand,
 )
@@ -12,7 +11,8 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         Creating Django Superusers would bypass some of our username checks, which can lead to unexpected behaviour.
         We therefore prohibit the execution of the command.
         """
-        if not os.environ.get("FORCE") == "1":
+        force = settings.FORCE
+        if not force == 1:
             raise CommandError(
                 "Running createsuperuser on your Funkwhale instance bypasses some of our checks "
                 "which can lead to unexpected behavior of your instance. We therefore suggest to "
diff --git a/api/funkwhale_api/common/management/commands/makemigrations.py b/api/funkwhale_api/common/management/commands/makemigrations.py
index f8530f1a7..42635deda 100644
--- a/api/funkwhale_api/common/management/commands/makemigrations.py
+++ b/api/funkwhale_api/common/management/commands/makemigrations.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import os
-
+from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.management.base import CommandError
 from django.core.management.commands.makemigrations import Command as BaseCommand
 
@@ -11,8 +10,8 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
 
         We ensure the command is disabled, unless a specific env var is provided.
         """
-        force = os.environ.get("FORCE") == "1"
-        if not force:
+        force = settings.FORCE
+        if not force == 1:
             raise CommandError(
                 "Running makemigrations on your Funkwhale instance can have desastrous"
                 " consequences. This command is disabled, and should only be run in "
diff --git a/api/tests/common/test_commands.py b/api/tests/common/test_commands.py
index 59c900d0b..8b52dbd43 100644
--- a/api/tests/common/test_commands.py
+++ b/api/tests/common/test_commands.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-import os
-
 import pytest
+from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.management import call_command
 from django.core.management.base import CommandError
 
@@ -119,12 +118,13 @@ commands = ["createsuperuser", "makemigrations"]
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("command", commands)
 def test_blocked_commands(command):
     with pytest.raises(CommandError):
+        setattr(settings, "FORCE", 0)
         call_command(command)
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("command", commands)
 def test_unblocked_commands(command, mocker):
-    mocker.patch.dict(os.environ, {"FORCE": "1"})
+    setattr(settings, "FORCE", 1)
 
     call_command(command)