diff --git a/.github/workflows/pull-request.yml b/.github/workflows/pull-request.yml
index 32dd6ac42..86d6b98e1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pull-request.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pull-request.yml
@@ -2,14 +2,6 @@ name: End-to-end
 
 on: [push, pull_request]
 
-env:
-  BASE_CANONICAL_URL: ${{ vars.BASE_CANONICAL_URL }}
-  API_HOST_CLIENT: ${{ vars.API_HOST_CLIENT }}
-  API_HOST_SERVER: ${{ vars.API_HOST_SERVER }}
-  COOKIE_SECRET: ${{ secrets.COOKIE_SECRET }}
-  ADS_SESSION_COOKIE_NAME: ${{ vars.ADS_SESSION_COOKIE_NAME }}
-  SCIX_SESSION_COOKIE_NAME: ${{ vars.SCIX_SESSION_COOKIE_NAME }}
-
 jobs:
   unit-tests:
     timeout-minutes: 60
@@ -54,6 +46,12 @@ jobs:
   e2e-tests:
     timeout-minutes: 60
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    env:
+      CI: true
+      BASE_CANONICAL_URL: ${{ vars.BASE_CANONICAL_URL }}
+      API_HOST_CLIENT: ${{ vars.API_HOST_CLIENT }}
+      API_HOST_SERVER: ${{ vars.API_HOST_SERVER }}
+      COOKIE_SECRET: ${{ vars.COOKIE_SECRET }}
     strategy:
       matrix:
         node-version: [ 18 ]
@@ -78,6 +76,15 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install Playwright Browsers
         run: pnpm exec playwright install --with-deps
 
+      - name: setup environment variables
+        run: |
+          touch .env.local
+          echo "CI=${{ env.CI }}" >> .env.local
+          echo "BASE_CANONICAL_URL=${{ env.BASE_CANONICAL_URL }}" >> .env.local
+          echo "API_HOST_CLIENT=${{ env.API_HOST_CLIENT }}" >> .env.local
+          echo "API_HOST_SERVER=${{ env.API_HOST_SERVER }}" >> .env.local
+          echo "COOKIE_SECRET=${{ env.COOKIE_SECRET }}" >> .env.local
+
       - name: Run integration tests
         run: pnpm integration
 
diff --git a/playwright.config.ts b/playwright.config.ts
index 570cb4e47..e752e4c49 100644
--- a/playwright.config.ts
+++ b/playwright.config.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,5 @@
 import { defineConfig, devices } from '@playwright/test';
 
-/**
- * Read environment variables from file.
- * https://github.com/motdotla/dotenv
- */
-// require('dotenv').config();
-
 /**
  * See https://playwright.dev/docs/test-configuration.
  */
@@ -48,32 +42,20 @@ export default defineConfig({
       name: 'webkit',
       use: { ...devices['Desktop Safari'] },
     },
-
-    /* Test against mobile viewports. */
-    // {
-    //   name: 'Mobile Chrome',
-    //   use: { ...devices['Pixel 5'] },
-    // },
-    // {
-    //   name: 'Mobile Safari',
-    //   use: { ...devices['iPhone 12'] },
-    // },
-
-    /* Test against branded browsers. */
-    // {
-    //   name: 'Microsoft Edge',
-    //   use: { ...devices['Desktop Edge'], channel: 'msedge' },
-    // },
-    // {
-    //   name: 'Google Chrome',
-    //   use: { ...devices['Desktop Chrome'], channel: 'chrome' },
-    // },
   ],
-
-  /* Run your local dev server before starting the tests */
   webServer: {
-    command: 'pnpm run dev:mocks',
-    url: 'http://localhost:8000',
+    env: {
+      BASE_CANONICAL_URL: process.env.BASE_CANONICAL_URL || 'https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu',
+      API_HOST_CLIENT: process.env.API_HOST_CLIENT || 'https://devapi.adsabs.harvard.edu/v1',
+      API_HOST_SERVER: process.env.API_HOST_SERVER || 'https://devapi.adsabs.harvard.edu/v1',
+      COOKIE_SECRET: process.env.COOKIE_SECRET || 'secret',
+      ADS_SESSION_COOKIE_NAME: process.env.ADS_SESSION_COOKIE_NAME || 'session',
+      SCIX_SESSION_COOKIE_NAME: process.env.SCIX_SESSION_COOKIE_NAME || 'scix_session',
+    },
+    command: 'pnpm run dev',
+    port: 8000,
+    // 5 minute timeout
+    timeout: 300000,
     reuseExistingServer: !process.env.CI,
   },
 });