diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/config/settings/production.py b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/config/settings/production.py
index c065f6fca..09d11ef37 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/config/settings/production.py
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/config/settings/production.py
@@ -65,9 +65,9 @@ OPBEAT = {
     'APP_ID': env('DJANGO_OPBEAT_APP_ID'),
     'SECRET_TOKEN': env('DJANGO_OPBEAT_SECRET_TOKEN')
 }
-MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES += (
+MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES = (
     'opbeat.contrib.django.middleware.OpbeatAPMMiddleware',
-)
+) + MIDDLEWARE_CLASSES
 {%- endif %}
 # set this to 60 seconds and then to 518400 when you can prove it works
 SECURE_HSTS_SECONDS = 60