diff --git a/archivebox/core/settings.py b/archivebox/core/settings.py
index 463a7079..9a28b4f6 100644
--- a/archivebox/core/settings.py
+++ b/archivebox/core/settings.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ __package__ = 'archivebox.core'
 
 import os
 import sys
+from django.utils.crypto import get_random_string
 
 
 from ..config import (
@@ -18,6 +19,8 @@ from ..config import (
 ALLOWED_HOSTS = ALLOWED_HOSTS.split(',')
 IS_SHELL = 'shell' in sys.argv[:3] or 'shell_plus' in sys.argv[:3]
 
+SECRET_KEY = SECRET_KEY or get_random_string(50, 'abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789-_+!.')
+
 INSTALLED_APPS = [
     'django.contrib.auth',
     'django.contrib.contenttypes',