diff --git a/pytest.ini b/pytest.ini
--- a/pytest.ini
+++ b/pytest.ini
@@ -21,3 +21,7 @@ markers =
   skip_backends: Mark tests as skipped for given backends.
   backends: Mark backends
   dbs: database markers for running tests for given DB
+
+env =
+    RC_TEST=1
+    RUN_ENV=test
diff --git a/requirements_test.txt b/requirements_test.txt
--- a/requirements_test.txt
+++ b/requirements_test.txt
@@ -11,6 +11,12 @@ pytest-cov==4.0.0
     iniconfig==2.0.0
     packaging==23.1
     pluggy==1.0.0
+pytest-env==1.1.3
+  pytest==7.3.1
+    attrs==22.2.0
+    iniconfig==2.0.0
+    packaging==23.1
+    pluggy==1.0.0
 pytest-rerunfailures==12.0
 pytest-profiling==1.7.0
   gprof2dot==2022.7.29
diff --git a/rhodecode/__init__.py b/rhodecode/__init__.py
--- a/rhodecode/__init__.py
+++ b/rhodecode/__init__.py
@@ -87,5 +87,5 @@ EXTENSIONS = {}
 __author__ = 'RhodeCode GmbH'
 __url__ = 'https://code.rhodecode.com'
 
-is_test = False
+is_test = os.getenv('RC_TEST')
 disable_error_handler = False
diff --git a/rhodecode/config/config_maker.py b/rhodecode/config/config_maker.py
--- a/rhodecode/config/config_maker.py
+++ b/rhodecode/config/config_maker.py
@@ -92,7 +92,6 @@ def sanitize_settings_and_apply_defaults
 
     # Sanitize generic settings.
     settings_maker.make_setting('default_encoding', 'UTF-8', parser='list')
-    settings_maker.make_setting('is_test', False, parser='bool')
     settings_maker.make_setting('gzip_responses', False, parser='bool')
     settings_maker.make_setting('startup.import_repos', 'false', parser='bool')
 
diff --git a/rhodecode/config/environment.py b/rhodecode/config/environment.py
--- a/rhodecode/config/environment.py
+++ b/rhodecode/config/environment.py
@@ -46,8 +46,7 @@ def load_pyramid_environment(global_conf
     # If this is a test run we prepare the test environment like
     # creating a test database, test search index and test repositories.
     # This has to be done before the database connection is initialized.
-    if settings['is_test']:
-        rhodecode.is_test = True
+    if rhodecode.is_test:
         rhodecode.disable_error_handler = True
         from rhodecode import authentication
         authentication.plugin_default_auth_ttl = 0
diff --git a/rhodecode/tests/database/conftest.py b/rhodecode/tests/database/conftest.py
--- a/rhodecode/tests/database/conftest.py
+++ b/rhodecode/tests/database/conftest.py
@@ -86,8 +86,7 @@ class DBBackend(object):
     _store = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
     _type = None
     _base_ini_config = [{'app:main': {'vcs.start_server': 'false',
-                                      'startup.import_repos': 'false',
-                                      'is_test': 'False'}}]
+                                      'startup.import_repos': 'false'}}]
     _db_url = [{'app:main': {'sqlalchemy.db1.url': ''}}]
     _base_db_name = 'rhodecode_test_db_backend'