diff --git a/tests/features/server_start.feature b/tests/features/server_start.feature
index 8b7a6ff..ab96997 100644
--- a/tests/features/server_start.feature
+++ b/tests/features/server_start.feature
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ Feature: Server Start
 	Scenario: Start using the server on another port
 		Given a server
 		And port is changed to something different
+		And environment variables are used
 		And it is running
 		When the home page is accessed
 		Then the status should be OK
diff --git a/tests/step_defs/server.py b/tests/step_defs/server.py
index 573c1fd..0bac799 100644
--- a/tests/step_defs/server.py
+++ b/tests/step_defs/server.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """Fixture for setting up a single server."""
 
 from asyncio import create_subprocess_exec, get_event_loop, sleep
+from json import dumps
 from pathlib import Path
 from random import choices
 from shutil import rmtree
@@ -13,44 +14,44 @@ class Server:
 
     def __init__(self):
         """Initialization of a server."""
-        self.datadir = Path.cwd().joinpath("tests", "data", "".join(choices(ascii_lowercase, k=5)))
+        self.datadir = Path.cwd().joinpath(
+            "tests", "data", "".join(choices(ascii_lowercase, k=5))
+        )
         self.datadir.mkdir(parents=True)
-        self.env = {}
+        self.settings = {}
+        self.use_config = True
+        # self.env = {}
         self.process = None
         self.loop = get_event_loop()
 
     @property
-    def address(self):
-        """Get the server address."""
+    def base_url(self):
+        """Returns the base URL for the server."""
         address = "127.0.0.1"
-        if "MMT_ADDRESS" in self.env:
-            address = self.env["MMT_ADDRESS"]
-        return address
-
-    @address.setter
-    def address(self, addr):
-        """Sets the server address."""
-        self.env["MTT_ADDRESS"] = addr
-
-    @property
-    def port(self):
-        """Get the port of the server."""
-        port = "9090"
-        if "MTT_PORT" in self.env:
-            port = self.env["MTT_PORT"]
-        return port
-
-    @port.setter
-    def port(self, num):
-        """Set the port for the server."""
-        self.env["MTT_PORT"] = str(num)
+        port = 9090
+        if "address" in self.settings:
+            address = self.settings["address"]
+        if "port" in self.settings:
+            port = self.settings["port"]
+        return f"{address}:{port}"
 
     async def __start(self):
         """async start of the server."""
+        env = None
+        if self.settings:
+            if self.use_config:
+                with open(
+                    self.datadir.joinpath("morethantext.json"), "w", encoding="utf-8"
+                ) as cfg:
+                    cfg.write(dumps(self.settings))
+            else:
+                env = {}
+                for key, value in self.settings.items():
+                    env[f"MTT_{key.upper()}"] = str(value)
         self.process = await create_subprocess_exec(
-            Path.cwd().joinpath("target", "release", "morethantext_web"), 
-            env=self.env,
-            cwd=self.datadir
+            Path.cwd().joinpath("target", "release", "morethantext_web"),
+            env=env,
+            cwd=self.datadir,
         )
         await sleep(1)
 
@@ -75,15 +76,20 @@ class Server:
 
     def set_safe_port(self):
         """Set the server port to something not being used."""
-        while self.port == "9090":
+        port = 9090
+        while port == 9090:
             sock = socket()
-            sock.bind((self.address, 0))
-            self.port = sock.getsockname()[1]
+            if "address" in self.settings:
+                address = self.settings["address"]
+            else:
+                address = "127.0.0.1"
+            sock.bind((address, 0))
+            port = sock.getsockname()[1]
             sock.close()
+        self.settings["port"] = port
 
     def set_to_host_ip(self):
         """Set the server to use something other than localhost."""
         hostname = gethostname()
-        self.address = gethostbyname(hostname)
-        print(self.address)
+        self.settings["address"] = gethostbyname(hostname)
         self.set_safe_port()
diff --git a/tests/step_defs/test_server_start.py b/tests/step_defs/test_server_start.py
index ab5cb2b..7cfbb43 100644
--- a/tests/step_defs/test_server_start.py
+++ b/tests/step_defs/test_server_start.py
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@ def create_server():
     """Set up a server."""
 
 
-@given("it is not using localhost")
-def set_server_address(server):
-    """Sets tthe server to not use localhost."""
-    server.set_to_host_ip()
+@given("environment variables are used")
+def set_use_environment(server):
+    """Sets up the process for environment variables."""
+    server.use_config = False
 
 
 @given("port is changed to something different")
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ def start_server(server):
 @when("the home page is accessed")
 def access_home_page(server, page):
     """Access the home page."""
-    url = f"http://{server.address}:{server.port}/"
+    url = f"http://{server.base_url}/"
     page.request_url(url)