diff --git a/docker/config/local_dev.env b/docker/config/local_dev.env
index 9da66839..11cb515c 100644
--- a/docker/config/local_dev.env
+++ b/docker/config/local_dev.env
@@ -16,3 +16,7 @@ ELIOT_STATSD_NAMESPACE=mcboatface
 ELIOT_STATSD_PORT=8125
 ELIOT_SYMBOLS_CACHE_MAX_SIZE=4gb
 ELIOT_SECRET_SENTRY_DSN=http://public@fakesentry:8090/1
+
+# This makes the shell inside a dev container in VS Code work.
+# The shell for the app user otherwise defaults to /sbin/nologin.
+SHELL=/bin/bash