diff --git a/backend/tests/test_search_epc.py b/backend/tests/test_search_epc.py
index 132f170f..9bb7c39a 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_search_epc.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_search_epc.py
@@ -1,11 +1,19 @@
 import pytest
 import os
 from backend.SearchEpc import SearchEpc  # Replace with your actual module name
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
 
-EPC_AUTH_TOKEN = os.getenv("EPC_AUTH_TOKEN")
+# If this backend/.env file is present, we load it
+if os.path.exists("backend/.env"):
+    load_dotenv("backend/.env")
 
 
 class TestSearchEpcIntegration:
+
+    @pytest.fixture
+    def epc_auth_token(self):
+        return os.getenv("EPC_AUTH_TOKEN")
+
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
         "address, postcode, uprn, skip_os, lmk_key, n_old_epcs",
         [
@@ -27,7 +35,7 @@ class TestSearchEpcIntegration:
 
         ],
     )
-    def test_find_property(self, address, postcode, uprn, skip_os, lmk_key, n_old_epcs):
+    def test_find_property(self, epc_auth_token, address, postcode, uprn, skip_os, lmk_key, n_old_epcs):
         """
         Integration test for `find_property`, making actual API calls.
         """
@@ -39,7 +47,7 @@ class TestSearchEpcIntegration:
             address1=address,
             postcode=postcode,
             uprn=uprn,
-            auth_token=EPC_AUTH_TOKEN,
+            auth_token=epc_auth_token,
             os_api_key=os_api_key,
         )