diff --git a/.envrc b/.envrc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3550a30f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.envrc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+use flake
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 12df926f..8158f64b 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 *~
+/.direnv/
 .test_info.*
 /src/sql/hydra-postgresql.sql
 /src/sql/hydra-sqlite.sql
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b0244f60..4cbd13cb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -84,6 +84,8 @@ $ mesonConfigurePhase
 $ ninja
 ```
 
+The development environment can also automatically be established using [nix-direnv](https://github.com/nix-community/nix-direnv).
+
 ### Executing Hydra During Development
 
 When working on new features or bug fixes you need to be able to run Hydra from your working copy. This