diff --git a/bugsink/conf_templates/docker.py.template b/bugsink/conf_templates/docker.py.template
index c7c4760..620a6c4 100644
--- a/bugsink/conf_templates/docker.py.template
+++ b/bugsink/conf_templates/docker.py.template
@@ -59,6 +59,12 @@ SNAPPEA = {
 
     "NUM_WORKERS": int(os.getenv("SNAPPEA_NUM_WORKERS", 2)),
     "STATS_RETENTION_MINUTES": int(os.getenv("SNAPPEA_STATS_RETENTION_MINUTES", 60 * 24 * 7)),
+
+    # in our Dockerfile the foreman is started exactly once (no check against collisions needed) and whaterver is
+    # running the container is responsible for the container's lifecycle (again: no pid-file check needed to avoid
+    # collisions)
+    "PID_FILE": None,
+
 }
 
 
diff --git a/bugsink/conf_templates/singleserver.py.template b/bugsink/conf_templates/singleserver.py.template
index c30b1dc..60804c6 100644
--- a/bugsink/conf_templates/singleserver.py.template
+++ b/bugsink/conf_templates/singleserver.py.template
@@ -43,7 +43,11 @@ SNAPPEA = {
     "TASK_ALWAYS_EAGER": False,
     "NUM_WORKERS": 4,
 
-    "PID_FILE": "{{ base_dir }}/snappea/snappea.pid",
+    "PID_FILE": None,
+    # alternatively (if you don't trust systemd to get at most one snappea foreman running; or if you don't use systemd
+    # at all), use the below:
+    # "PID_FILE": "{{ base_dir }}/snappea/snappea.pid",
+
     "WAKEUP_CALLS_DIR": "{{ base_dir }}/snappea/wakeup",
     "STATS_RETENTION_MINUTES": 60 * 24 * 7,
 }
diff --git a/bugsink/settings/development.py b/bugsink/settings/development.py
index f8e7127..1e1c6c7 100644
--- a/bugsink/settings/development.py
+++ b/bugsink/settings/development.py
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ if not I_AM_RUNNING == "TEST":
 SNAPPEA = {
     "TASK_ALWAYS_EAGER": True,  # at least for (unit) tests, this is a requirement
     "NUM_WORKERS": 1,
+    "PID_FILE": "/tmp/snappea.pid",  # for development: a thing to 'tune' to None to test the no-pid-check branches.
 }
 
 EMAIL_HOST = os.getenv("EMAIL_HOST")