diff --git a/.anon.env b/.anon.env
index e4549817..8610e9cc 100644
--- a/.anon.env
+++ b/.anon.env
@@ -32,3 +32,5 @@ VITE_ENABLE_WRITE: true
 VITE_RUNNING_ENV: dev
 # ^These are prefixed VITE_ so they can be used in the frontend, but they're used by
 # backend as well.
+
+VITE_BACKEND_URL: http://localhost:4000
diff --git a/.env.template b/.env.template
index cb29580e..ede8b1a1 100644
--- a/.env.template
+++ b/.env.template
@@ -32,3 +32,5 @@ VITE_ENABLE_WRITE: true
 VITE_RUNNING_ENV: dev
 # ^These are prefixed VITE_ so they can be used in the frontend, but they're used by
 # backend as well.
+
+VITE_BACKEND_URL: http://localhost:4000