diff --git a/docs/source/conf.py b/docs/source/conf.py
index de086fe..163a9ca 100644
--- a/docs/source/conf.py
+++ b/docs/source/conf.py
@@ -11,8 +11,11 @@
 # documentation root, use os.path.abspath to make it absolute, like shown here.
 
 import os
+import sys
 
 os.environ.setdefault("DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE", "federatedcode.settings")
+os.environ.setdefault("SECRET_KEY", "dummy secret key for autodoc rtd documentation")
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath("../../."))
 
 # -- Project information -----------------------------------------------------