diff --git a/cli/commands/be.go b/cli/commands/be.go
index d5e660103..e7b2fb1d7 100644
--- a/cli/commands/be.go
+++ b/cli/commands/be.go
@@ -14,12 +14,22 @@ func RunBackendCommand() *cli.Command {
 		Name:     "be",
 		Usage:    "Run the backend",
 		Category: "Development",
+		Flags: []cli.Flag{
+			&cli.BoolFlag{
+				Name:    "use-dev-dot-env",
+				Usage:   "Use the development .env file",
+				Value:   false,
+				Aliases: []string{"d"},
+			},
+		},
 		Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
 			if c.Args().Len() > 0 {
 				return cli.Exit("Invalid arguments", 1)
 			}
 
-			err := RunBE()
+			useDevDotEnv := c.Bool("use-dev-dot-env")
+
+			err := RunBE(useDevDotEnv)
 			if err != nil {
 				return cli.Exit(err.Error(), 1)
 			}
@@ -31,8 +41,15 @@ func RunBackendCommand() *cli.Command {
 	return &command
 }
 
-func RunBE() error {
-	goCmd := exec.Command("go", "run", "main.go")
+func RunBE(useDevDotEnv bool) error {
+	var goCmd *exec.Cmd
+
+	if useDevDotEnv {
+		goCmd = exec.Command("go", "run", "main.go", "--use-dev-dot-env")
+	} else {
+		goCmd = exec.Command("go", "run", "main.go")
+	}
+
 	goCmd.Dir = BACKEND_DIR
 
 	goCmd.Stdout = os.Stdout