diff --git a/sumatra/recordstore/django_store/models.py b/sumatra/recordstore/django_store/models.py
index cfa8137d..ec0c4703 100644
--- a/sumatra/recordstore/django_store/models.py
+++ b/sumatra/recordstore/django_store/models.py
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@
 from distutils.version import LooseVersion
 from sumatra.core import get_registered_components
 import warnings
+# Hack to prevent `import tagging.fields` from failing
+import django.conf
+if django.conf.settings._wrapped is django.conf.empty:
+    django.conf.settings.configure()
 with warnings.catch_warnings():
     warnings.simplefilter("ignore")
     import tagging.fields