diff --git a/gunicorn_start.sh b/gunicorn_start.sh
index 9669644fa..5d82418df 100755
--- a/gunicorn_start.sh
+++ b/gunicorn_start.sh
@@ -23,6 +23,15 @@ DJANGO_WSGI_MODULE=sapl.wsgi                    # WSGI module name (*)
 
 echo "Starting $NAME as `whoami` on base dir $SAPL_DIR"
 
+# parameter can be passed to run without virtualenv 
+if [[ "$@" != "no-venv" ]]; then
+    # Activate the virtual environment
+    cd $DJANGODIR
+    source /var/interlegis/.virtualenvs/sapl/bin/activate
+    export DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE=$DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE
+    export PYTHONPATH=$DJANGODIR:$PYTHONPATH
+fi
+
 # Create the run directory if it doesn't exist
 RUNDIR=$(dirname $SOCKFILE)
 test -d $RUNDIR || mkdir -p $RUNDIR
diff --git a/start.sh b/start.sh
index 226c70de4..0774b0e02 100755
--- a/start.sh
+++ b/start.sh
@@ -50,4 +50,4 @@ python3 manage.py migrate
 python3 manage.py collectstatic --no-input
 python3 manage.py rebuild_index --noinput
 
-/bin/sh gunicorn_start.sh
+/bin/sh gunicorn_start.sh no-venv