diff --git a/server_environment/server_env.py b/server_environment/server_env.py
index 4d2af55c..51dfd7e3 100644
--- a/server_environment/server_env.py
+++ b/server_environment/server_env.py
@@ -58,14 +58,20 @@
     "off": False,
 }
 
-if not system_base_config.get("running_env", False):
-    raise Exception(
-        "The parameter 'running_env' has not be set neither in base config "
-        "file option -c or in openerprc.\n"
-        "We strongly recommend against using the rc file but instead use an "
-        "explicit config file with this content:\n"
-        "[options]\nrunning_env = dev"
-    )
+
+def _load_running_env():
+    if not system_base_config.get("running_env"):
+        _logger.warning("`running_env` not found. Using default = `test`.")
+        _logger.warning(
+            "We strongly recommend against using the rc file but instead use an "
+            "explicit config file or env variable."
+        )
+        # safe default
+        system_base_config["running_env"] = "test"
+
+
+_load_running_env()
+
 
 ck_path = None
 if _dir:
diff --git a/server_environment/tests/common.py b/server_environment/tests/common.py
index 781ce256..43682a46 100644
--- a/server_environment/tests/common.py
+++ b/server_environment/tests/common.py
@@ -13,10 +13,15 @@
 
 
 class ServerEnvironmentCase(common.SavepointCase):
+
+    _test_case_running_env = "testing"
+
     def setUp(self):
         super().setUp()
         self._original_running_env = config.get("running_env")
-        config["running_env"] = "testing"
+        if self._test_case_running_env is not None:
+            config["running_env"] = self._test_case_running_env
+        server_env._load_running_env()
 
     def tearDown(self):
         super().tearDown()
diff --git a/server_environment/tests/test_environment_variable.py b/server_environment/tests/test_environment_variable.py
index 17474067..8ea3b51f 100644
--- a/server_environment/tests/test_environment_variable.py
+++ b/server_environment/tests/test_environment_variable.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 # License GPL-3.0 or later (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl).
 
 
+from odoo.tools.config import config
+
 from odoo.addons.server_environment import server_env
 
 from .common import ServerEnvironmentCase
@@ -25,3 +27,11 @@ def test_env_variables_override(self):
             parser = server_env._load_config()
             val = parser.get("external_service.ftp", "user")
             self.assertEqual(val, "foo")
+
+
+class TestRunningEnv(ServerEnvironmentCase):
+
+    _test_case_running_env = ""  # empty -> no env set
+
+    def test_running_env_default(self):
+        self.assertEqual(config["running_env"], "test")