diff --git a/server/.jestconfig.json b/server/.jestconfig.json
index 383aded9b..361760a23 100644
--- a/server/.jestconfig.json
+++ b/server/.jestconfig.json
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@
     "<rootDir>/server"
   ],
   "setupFiles": [
-    "<rootDir>/__mocks__/console.js"
+    "<rootDir>/__mocks__/console.js",
+    "./server/test/helper.js"
   ],
   "testEnvironment": "node"
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/server/test/helper.js b/server/test/helper.js
index 05d110c66..4fed9312b 100644
--- a/server/test/helper.js
+++ b/server/test/helper.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // @flow
-require('../../init');
+require('dotenv').config({ silent: true });
 
 // test environment variables
 process.env.DATABASE_URL = process.env.DATABASE_URL_TEST;