diff --git a/docs/dev/settings.rst b/docs/dev/settings.rst
index c33cebfb6d1..2a795875740 100644
--- a/docs/dev/settings.rst
+++ b/docs/dev/settings.rst
@@ -168,3 +168,10 @@ The following secrets are required to use ``djstripe`` and our Stripe integratio
 .. envvar:: RTD_STRIPE_SECRET
 .. envvar:: RTD_STRIPE_PUBLISHABLE
 .. envvar:: RTD_DJSTRIPE_WEBHOOK_SECRET
+
+Ethical Ads variables
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+The following variables are required to use ``ethicalads`` in dev:
+
+.. envvar:: RTD_USE_PROMOS
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/readthedocs/settings/docker_compose.py b/readthedocs/settings/docker_compose.py
index 7c80efd9388..efed7d54c21 100644
--- a/readthedocs/settings/docker_compose.py
+++ b/readthedocs/settings/docker_compose.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class DockerBaseSettings(CommunityBaseSettings):
         HOSTIP = ips[0][:-1] + "1"
 
     # Turn this on to test ads
-    USE_PROMOS = False
+    USE_PROMOS = os.environ.get("RTD_USE_PROMOS") is not None
     ADSERVER_API_BASE = f"http://{HOSTIP}:5000"
     # Create a Token for an admin User and set it here.
     ADSERVER_API_KEY = None