diff --git a/dev b/dev
index 6f94c40d0..26da6c93d 100755
--- a/dev
+++ b/dev
@@ -93,6 +93,11 @@ def main():
         run("./scripts/cleanup-desktop.sh")
         run("yarn install")
         run("plz build //backend:mintterd //:yarn")
+
+        testnet_var = "MINTTER_P2P_TESTNET_NAME"
+        if testnet_var not in os.environ:
+            os.environ[testnet_var] = "dev"
+
         run("VITE_DESKTOP_APPDATA=Mintter.local yarn desktop:make")
 
     @cmd(cmds, "test-desktop", "Run frontend desktop tests.")