diff --git a/services/chat/config/settings.defaults.js b/services/chat/config/settings.defaults.js
index 501540ad3c..a52164d63a 100644
--- a/services/chat/config/settings.defaults.js
+++ b/services/chat/config/settings.defaults.js
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ module.exports = {
       url: `http://${process.env['WEB_HOST'] || 'localhost'}:${process.env[
         'WEB_PORT'
       ] || 3000}`,
-      user: 'sharelatex',
-      pass: 'password'
+      user: process.env['WEB_API_USER'] || 'sharelatex',
+      pass: process.env['WEB_API_PASSWORD'] || 'password'
     }
   },