diff --git a/note_kfet/settings/__init__.py b/note_kfet/settings/__init__.py
index 47e5bc1c..c06c9984 100644
--- a/note_kfet/settings/__init__.py
+++ b/note_kfet/settings/__init__.py
@@ -1,17 +1,40 @@
 import os
+import re
 
 from .base import *
 
+def read_env():
+    """Pulled from Honcho code with minor updates, reads local default
+    environment variables from a .env file located in the project root
+    directory.
+    """
+    try:
+        with open('.env') as f:
+            content = f.read()
+    except IOError:
+        content = ''
+    for line in content.splitlines():
+        m1 = re.match(r'\A([A-Za-z_0-9]+)=(.*)\Z', line)
+        if m1:
+            key, val = m1.group(1), m1.group(2)
+            m2 = re.match(r"\A'(.*)'\Z", val)
+            if m2:
+                val = m2.group(1)
+            m3 = re.match(r'\A"(.*)"\Z', val)
+            if m3:
+                val = re.sub(r'\\(.)', r'\1', m3.group(1))
+            os.environ.setdefault(key, val)
+
+read_env()
+
 app_stage = os.environ.get('DJANGO_APP_STAGE', 'dev')
 if app_stage == 'prod':
     from .production import *
+    DATABASES["default"]["PASSWORD"] = os.environ.get('DJANGO_DB_PASSWORD','CHANGE_ME_IN_ENV_SETTINGS');
+    SECRET_KEY = os.environ.get('DJANGO_SECRET_KEY','CHANGE_ME_IN_ENV_SETTINGS');
 else:
     from .development import *
 
 # env variables set at the of in /env/bin/activate
 # don't forget to unset in deactivate !
 
-DATABASES["default"]["PASSWORD"] = os.environ.get('DJANGO_DB_PASSWORD','CHANGE_ME_IN_ENV_SETTINGS');
-SECRET_KEY = os.environ.get('DJANGO_SECRET_KEY','CHANGE_ME_IN_ENV_SETTINGS');
-
-