diff --git a/.env.defaults b/.env.defaults
index bc5fb1d..5500243 100644
--- a/.env.defaults
+++ b/.env.defaults
@@ -6,5 +6,8 @@
 # schema.prisma defaults
 DATABASE_URL=file:./dev.db
 
+# location of the test database for api service scenarios (defaults to ./.redwood/test.db if not set)
+# TEST_DATABASE_URL=file:./.redwood/test.db
+
 # disables Prisma CLI update notifier
 PRISMA_HIDE_UPDATE_MESSAGE=true