diff --git a/anki/consts.py b/anki/consts.py
index 79760babd..d75c7b82e 100644
--- a/anki/consts.py
+++ b/anki/consts.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ MODEL_CLOZE = 1
 SCHEMA_VERSION = 11
 SYNC_ZIP_SIZE = int(2.5*1024*1024)
 SYNC_ZIP_COUNT = 25
-SYNC_BASE = os.environ.get("SYNC_BASE") or "https://ankiweb.net/"
+SYNC_BASE = "https://ankiweb.net/"
 SYNC_VER = 8
 
 HELP_SITE="http://ankisrs.net/docs/manual.html"
diff --git a/anki/sync.py b/anki/sync.py
index baff048dc..d3d261f85 100644
--- a/anki/sync.py
+++ b/anki/sync.py
@@ -607,6 +607,8 @@ class RemoteServer(HttpSyncer):
         HttpSyncer.__init__(self, hkey)
 
     def syncURL(self):
+        if os.getenv("DEV"):
+            return "http://localhost:5000/sync/"
         return SYNC_BASE + "sync/"
 
     def hostKey(self, user, pw):
@@ -845,6 +847,8 @@ class RemoteMediaServer(HttpSyncer):
         HttpSyncer.__init__(self, hkey, con)
 
     def syncURL(self):
+        if os.getenv("DEV"):
+            return "http://localhost:5001/"
         return SYNC_BASE + "msync/"
 
     def begin(self):