diff --git a/ghost/portal/.env.local.example b/ghost/portal/.env.local.example
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..09883d6b86
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ghost/portal/.env.local.example
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+REACT_APP_ADMIN_URL=http://localhost:2368/ghost
+REACT_APP_SITE_URL=http://localhost:2368
diff --git a/ghost/portal/README.md b/ghost/portal/README.md
index 4c876bf4c9..d73c895aae 100644
--- a/ghost/portal/README.md
+++ b/ghost/portal/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,13 @@
-# Membersjs
+# Members.js
 
 This project was bootstrapped with [Create React App](https://github.com/facebook/create-react-app).
 
+## Configure for local development
+
+- Copy `.env.local.example` to `.env.local`
+- Update the values to match your local dev version of Ghost
+- Ensure your local Ghost is running
+
 ## Available Scripts
 
 In the project directory, you can run:
diff --git a/ghost/portal/src/index.js b/ghost/portal/src/index.js
index 1c7eafd66f..6e36ff3906 100644
--- a/ghost/portal/src/index.js
+++ b/ghost/portal/src/index.js
@@ -12,9 +12,15 @@ function initMembersJS(data) {
     );
 }
 
-// Uncomment for local UI testing
-// initMembersJS({site: {siteUrl: "", adminUrl: ""}});
-
 window.GhostMembers = {
     initMembersJS: initMembersJS
 };
+
+// This will automatically load for local if an .env.local file is present
+if (process.env.REACT_APP_ADMIN_URL) {
+    let site = {
+        adminUrl: process.env.REACT_APP_ADMIN_URL,
+        siteUrl: process.env.REACT_APP_SITE_URL || process.env.REACT_APP_ADMIN_URL
+    };
+    initMembersJS({site});
+}