diff --git a/backend/.env.test b/backend/.env.test
index f401d0ef..63a8b650 100644
--- a/backend/.env.test
+++ b/backend/.env.test
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ BASE_URL=http://localhost:8000
 AUTH_MODE=local
 # Must be non-placeholder and >= 50 chars.
 # Generate with: python3 -c "import secrets; print(secrets.token_urlsafe(48))"
-LOCAL_AUTH_TOKEN=
+LOCAL_AUTH_TOKEN=local-auth-test-token-aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
 
 # Clerk settings kept empty in local auth mode
 CLERK_SECRET_KEY=