diff --git a/scripts/run_docker.sh b/scripts/run_docker.sh
index cc66dde86..45269acd0 100755
--- a/scripts/run_docker.sh
+++ b/scripts/run_docker.sh
@@ -8,6 +8,27 @@ if [[ $(git rev-parse --show-toplevel) != $(pwd) ]]; then
   exit 1;
 fi
 
+if [[ ! -f .env ]]; then
+  (
+  cd web/backend
+  npm ci
+  cat <<EOF > ../../.env 
+DELA_PROXY_URL=http://172.19.44.254:8080
+DATABASE_USERNAME=dvoting
+DATABASE_PASSWORD=$RANDOM                       # choose any PostgreSQL password
+DATABASE_HOST=db
+DATABASE_PORT=5432
+DB_PATH=dvoting                             # LMDB database path
+FRONT_END_URL=http://127.0.0.1:3000         # the automated frontend tests expect this value do not change it
+BACKEND_HOST=backend
+BACKEND_PORT=5000
+SESSION_SECRET=$RANDOM                          # choose any secret
+PROXYPORT=8080
+NODEPORT=2000                               # DELA node port
+$( npm run keygen | tail -n 2 )
+EOF
+  )
+fi
 
 source ./.env;
 export COMPOSE_FILE=${COMPOSE_FILE:-./docker-compose/docker-compose.yml};