diff --git a/qt/aqt/mediasrv.py b/qt/aqt/mediasrv.py
index f034c0792..43395a97f 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/mediasrv.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/mediasrv.py
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ class MediaServer(threading.Thread):
             logging.getLogger("waitress").setLevel(logging.ERROR)
 
             desired_host = os.getenv("ANKI_API_HOST", "127.0.0.1")
-            desired_port = int(os.getenv("ANKI_API_PORT", "0"))
+            desired_port = int(os.getenv("ANKI_API_PORT") or 0)
             self.server = create_server(
                 app,
                 host=desired_host,
diff --git a/run b/run
index 27fbda0a0..7f4a5f9ea 100755
--- a/run
+++ b/run
@@ -4,7 +4,14 @@ set -e
 
 export PYTHONWARNINGS=default
 export PYTHONPYCACHEPREFIX=out/pycache
-export ANKIDEV=1
+# define these as blank before calling the script if you want to disable them
+export ANKIDEV=${ANKIDEV-1}
+export QTWEBENGINE_REMOTE_DEBUGGING=${QTWEBENGINE_REMOTE_DEBUGGING-8080}
+# The pages can be accessed by, e.g. surfing to
+# http://localhost:40000/_anki/pages/deckconfig.html
+# Useful in conjunction with tools/web-watch for auto-rebuilding.
+export ANKI_API_PORT=${ANKI_API_PORT-40000}
+export ANKI_API_HOST=${ANKI_API_HOST-localhost}
 
 ./ninja pylib qt
 ./out/pyenv/bin/python tools/run.py $*
diff --git a/tools/ts-run b/tools/ts-run
deleted file mode 100755
index 25bc53c9c..000000000
--- a/tools/ts-run
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-#
-# The pages can be accessed by, eg surfing to
-# http://localhost:40000/_anki/pages/deckconfig.html
-
-QTWEBENGINE_REMOTE_DEBUGGING=8080 ANKI_API_PORT=40000 ./run $*