diff --git a/backend/package.json b/backend/package.json
index 5209c71f4..6bd5db20f 100644
--- a/backend/package.json
+++ b/backend/package.json
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
     "lint": "eslint src --config .eslintrc.js",
     "test": "nyc  --reporter=text-lcov yarn test:jest",
     "test:cypress": "run-p --race test:before:*",
-    "test:before:server": "cross-env GRAPHQL_URI=http://localhost:4123 GRAPHQL_PORT=4123 babel-node src/ 2> /dev/null",
+    "test:before:server": "cross-env CLIENT_URI=http://localhost:4123 GRAPHQL_URI=http://localhost:4123 GRAPHQL_PORT=4123 babel-node src/ 2> /dev/null",
     "test:before:seeder": "cross-env GRAPHQL_URI=http://localhost:4001 GRAPHQL_PORT=4001 PERMISSIONS=disabled babel-node src/ 2> /dev/null",
     "test:jest:cmd": "wait-on tcp:4001 tcp:4123 && jest --forceExit --detectOpenHandles --runInBand",
     "test:cucumber:cmd": "wait-on tcp:4001 tcp:4123 && cucumber-js --require-module @babel/register --exit test/",
diff --git a/backend/src/activitypub/ActivityPub.js b/backend/src/activitypub/ActivityPub.js
index c02193abd..6c3fb4082 100644
--- a/backend/src/activitypub/ActivityPub.js
+++ b/backend/src/activitypub/ActivityPub.js
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ export default class ActivityPub {
   static init (server) {
     if (!activityPub) {
       dotenv.config()
-      const url = new URL(process.env.GRAPHQL_URI)
+      const url = new URL(process.env.CLIENT_URI)
       activityPub = new ActivityPub(url.host || 'localhost:4000', url.origin)
 
       // integrate into running graphql express server