diff --git a/frontend/README.md b/frontend/README.md
index d5b4fc9..0652bb2 100644
--- a/frontend/README.md
+++ b/frontend/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+# fediverse.space frontend
+
+The React frontend for [fediverse.space](https://fediverse.space). Written in Typescript.
+
+- Set the environment variable `REACT_APP_STAGING=true` when building to use the staging backend.
+
+# Default README
+
 This project was bootstrapped with [Create React App](https://github.com/facebookincubator/create-react-app).
 
 Below you will find some information on how to perform common tasks.<br>
diff --git a/frontend/src/util.ts b/frontend/src/util.ts
index 3ff0f3d..429ede0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/util.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/util.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 import fetch from "cross-fetch";
 
-const API_ROOT =
-  process.env.NODE_ENV === "development" ? "http://localhost:4000/api/" : "https://backend.fediverse.space/api/";
+let API_ROOT = "http://localhost:4000/api/";
+if (["true", true, 1, "1"].indexOf(process.env.REACT_APP_STAGING || "") > -1) {
+  API_ROOT = "https://phoenix.api-develop.fediverse.space/api/";
+} else if (process.env.NODE_ENV === "production") {
+  API_ROOT = "https://phoenix.api.fediverse.space/api/";
+}
 
 export const getFromApi = (path: string): Promise<any> => {
   const domain = API_ROOT.endsWith("/") ? API_ROOT : API_ROOT + "/";
diff --git a/netlify.toml b/netlify.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4438afa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/netlify.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+[build]
+  base = "frontend/"
+  publish = "frontend/build/"
+
+[context.develop.environment]
+  REACT_APP_STAGING = "true"
+
+[context.branch-deploy.environment]
+  REACT_APP_STAGING = "true"