diff --git a/scripts/backend/run b/scripts/backend/run
index f60f3e7b..26871c89 100644
--- a/scripts/backend/run
+++ b/scripts/backend/run
@@ -3,4 +3,6 @@ set -e
 
 wget -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ocadotechnology/codeforlife-workspace/main/scripts/backend/setup | bash
 
-pipenv run python manage.py runserver localhost:8000
+if [ -z $SERVICE_PORT ]; then SERVICE_PORT='8000'; fi
+
+(export SERVICE_PORT && pipenv run python manage.py runserver localhost:$SERVICE_PORT)