diff --git a/src/paperless/settings.py b/src/paperless/settings.py
index d7cae943b..0aa162739 100644
--- a/src/paperless/settings.py
+++ b/src/paperless/settings.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ SCRATCH_DIR = os.getenv("PAPERLESS_SCRATCH_DIR", "/tmp/paperless")
 # Application Definition                                                      #
 ###############################################################################
 
-env_apps = os.getenv("PAPERLESS_APPS") if os.getenv("PAPERLESS_APPS") else []
+env_apps = os.getenv("PAPERLESS_APPS").split(",") if os.getenv("PAPERLESS_APPS") else []
 
 INSTALLED_APPS = [
     "whitenoise.runserver_nostatic",