diff --git a/.github/workflows/django.yml b/.github/workflows/django.yml
index 8df3326..4c0f239 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/django.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/django.yml
@@ -10,22 +10,32 @@ jobs:
   build:
 
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    strategy:
-      max-parallel: 4
-      matrix:
-        python-version: [3.9, 3.11]
+
+    services:
+      postgres:
+        image: postgres:latest
+        env:
+          POSTGRES_USER: postgres
+          POSTGRES_PASSWORD: postgres
+          POSTGRES_DB: github_actions
+        ports:
+          - 5432:5432
+        # needed because the postgres container does not provide a healthcheck
+        options: --health-cmd pg_isready --health-interval 10s --health-timeout 5s --health-retries 5
 
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v3
-    - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-      uses: actions/setup-python@v3
+    - uses: actions/checkout@v2
+    - name: Set up Python 3.9
+      uses: actions/setup-python@v2
       with:
-        python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-    - name: Install Dependencies
+        python-version: 3.9
+    - name: Install dependencies
       run: |
         python -m pip install --upgrade pip
         pip install -r requirements.txt
-    - name: Run Tests
+    - name: Run migrations
+      run: python manage.py migrate
+    - name: Run tests
       run: |
-        cd backend
-        python manage.py test
+      cd backend
+      python manage.py test
diff --git a/backend/core/settings.py b/backend/core/settings.py
index 65fc5f7..9089633 100644
--- a/backend/core/settings.py
+++ b/backend/core/settings.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ BASE_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
 # See https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/4.2/howto/deployment/checklist/
 
 # SECURITY WARNING: keep the secret key used in production secret!
-SECRET_KEY = config('SECRET_KEY')
+SECRET_KEY = config('SECRET_KEY', default='j5&66&8@b-!3tbq!=w6-dypl($_0zzoi*ilxd1*&$_6s-59il5')
 
 # SECURITY WARNING: don't run with debug turned on in production!
 DEBUG = config('DEBUG', default=False, cast=bool)
@@ -158,6 +158,17 @@ DATABASES = {
     }
 }
 
+if os.environ.get('GITHUB_WORKFLOW'):
+    DATABASES = {
+        'default': {
+           'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.postgresql_psycopg2',
+           'NAME': 'github_actions',
+           'USER': 'postgres',
+           'PASSWORD': 'postgres',
+           'HOST': '127.0.0.1',
+           'PORT': '5432',
+        }
+    }
 
 # Password validation
 # https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/4.2/ref/settings/#auth-password-validators