diff --git a/cmsmanage/settings.py b/cmsmanage/settings.py
index d83c33f..5fb5e0e 100644
--- a/cmsmanage/settings.py
+++ b/cmsmanage/settings.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import os
+import sys
 from pathlib import Path
 
 from django.core import validators
@@ -303,8 +304,15 @@ class Dev(NonCIBase):
     DEBUG = values.BooleanValue(True)
     INTERNAL_IPS = ["127.0.0.1"]
 
-    INSTALLED_APPS = NonCIBase.INSTALLED_APPS + ["debug_toolbar", "django_extensions"]
-    MIDDLEWARE = ["debug_toolbar.middleware.DebugToolbarMiddleware"] + Base.MIDDLEWARE
+    INSTALLED_APPS = NonCIBase.INSTALLED_APPS + ["django_extensions"]
+
+    # bit of a hack to disable debug toolbar when running tests
+    if DEBUG and "test" not in sys.argv:
+        INSTALLED_APPS += ["debug_toolbar"]
+        MIDDLEWARE = NonCIBase.MIDDLEWARE + [
+            "debug_toolbar.middleware.DebugToolbarMiddleware",
+        ]
+
     EMAIL = values.EmailURLValue("smtp://localhost:1025")  # for local `mailpit`
 
     SENDFILE_BACKEND = "django_sendfile.backends.development"