diff --git a/atst/app.py b/atst/app.py
index 273d3a86..cad01fea 100644
--- a/atst/app.py
+++ b/atst/app.py
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ from atst.queue import queue
 
 
 ENV = os.getenv("FLASK_ENV", "dev")
-REQUIRE_CRLS = os.getenv("REQUIRE_CRLS", "True")
 
 
 def make_app(config):
@@ -47,7 +46,7 @@ def make_app(config):
     app.config.update({"SESSION_REDIS": app.redis})
 
     make_flask_callbacks(app)
-    if REQUIRE_CRLS == "True":
+    if app.config.get("REQUIRE_CRLS"):
         make_crl_validator(app)
     register_filters(app)
     make_eda_client(app)
@@ -101,6 +100,7 @@ def map_config(config):
         "PERMANENT_SESSION_LIFETIME": config.getint(
             "default", "PERMANENT_SESSION_LIFETIME"
         ),
+        "REQUIRE_CRLS": config.getboolean("default", "REQUIRE_CRLS"),
         "RQ_REDIS_URL": config["default"]["REDIS_URI"],
         "RQ_QUEUES": ["atat_{}".format(ENV.lower())],
     }
diff --git a/config/base.ini b/config/base.ini
index 5fa7ec6e..491ab0e4 100644
--- a/config/base.ini
+++ b/config/base.ini
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ PGPORT = 5432
 PGUSER = postgres
 PORT=8000
 REDIS_URI = redis://localhost:6379
+REQUIRE_CRLS = true
 SECRET = change_me_into_something_secret
 SECRET_KEY = change_me_into_something_secret
 SESSION_COOKIE_NAME=atat