diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 4aa530726..48cea8f25 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -67,12 +67,10 @@ db.once('open', () => {
   // we're connected!
   logger.info('Successfully connected to database!')
 
-  let port
-  if (process.env.NODE_ENV === 'test') {
-    port = process.env.TEST_PORT || config.get('port')
-  } else {
-    port = process.env.PORT || config.get('port')
-  }
+  // Our testing envrionent sometimes stands up a short lived instance of the app.
+  // This can cause breaks if there is already and instance running.
+  // A different port is used when running our testing environment through ci to avoid port collisions.
+  const port = process.env.NODE_ENV === 'test' ? process.env.TEST_PORT || config.get('port') : process.env.PORT || config.get('port')
   app.listen(port, () => logger.info(`Serving on port ${port}`))
 })