diff --git a/.circleci/config.yml b/.circleci/config.yml
index 043d157..0c39237 100644
--- a/.circleci/config.yml
+++ b/.circleci/config.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@ jobs:
       - image: circleci/python:3.7.4
     steps:
       - checkout
+      - run: export CONDUIT_SECRET='something-really-secret'
+      - run: export FLASK_APP=autoapp.py
+      - run: export FLASK_DEBUG=1
       - run:
           name: install pyth dependencies
           command: |
@@ -20,7 +23,7 @@ jobs:
       - image: circleci/python:3.7.4
         environment:
           DATABASE_URL: postgresql://myuser:somePwd@localhost:5432/myuser
-      - image: circleci/postgres:9.6.5
+      - image: circleci/postgres:9.6.5-alpine-ram
         environment:
           POSTGRES_DB: myuser
           POSTGRES_USER: myuser