diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/settings/base.py b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/settings/base.py
index f69908c2d..e0b33780f 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/settings/base.py
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.project_slug}}/config/settings/base.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ ROOT_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve(strict=True).parent.parent.parent
 # {{ cookiecutter.project_slug }}/
 APPS_DIR = ROOT_DIR / "{{ cookiecutter.project_slug }}"
 env = environ.Env()
+environ.Env.read_env()
 
 READ_DOT_ENV_FILE = env.bool("DJANGO_READ_DOT_ENV_FILE", default=False)
 if READ_DOT_ENV_FILE: