diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/doc/source/conf.py b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/doc/source/conf.py
index 9223223..99d6081 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/doc/source/conf.py
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/doc/source/conf.py
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ import os
 import subprocess
 import sys
 
+import django
+
 BASE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
 ROOT = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(BASE_DIR, "..", ".."))
 
@@ -37,8 +39,12 @@ sys.path.insert(0, ROOT)
 os.environ.setdefault('DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE',
                       '{{ cookiecutter.module_name }}.test.settings')
 
-from {{ cookiecutter.module_name }} \
-    import version as ui_ver
+# Starting in Django 1.7, standalone scripts, such as a sphinx build
+# require that django.setup() be called first.
+# https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/1.8/releases/1.7/#standalone-scripts
+django.setup()
+
+from {{ cookiecutter.module_name }} import version as ui_ver
 
 
 def write_autodoc_index():
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/setup.cfg b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/setup.cfg
index 0ba43d0..0fc35c7 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/setup.cfg
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/setup.cfg
@@ -26,3 +26,4 @@ packages =
 all_files = 1
 build-dir = doc/build
 source-dir = doc/source
+warning-is-error = 1
diff --git a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/tox.ini b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/tox.ini
index 43357ae..8b51f3d 100644
--- a/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/tox.ini
+++ b/{{cookiecutter.repo_name}}/tox.ini
@@ -60,7 +60,6 @@ commands =
   echo "nexecute `npm run test`"
 
 [testenv:docs]
-setenv = DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE={{cookiecutter.module_name}}.test.settings
 commands = python setup.py build_sphinx
 
 [testenv:releasenotes]